Vibrational spectra of nickel and platinum dioxide molecules isolated in solid argon

The reactions of two group 10 metal atoms, nickel and platinum, with oxygen molecules at low temperature in solid argon have been reinvestigated. New information has been gathered. on the interactions between transition metals and oxygen, more precisely, on platinum and nickel superoxides and their insertion products. For Pt(O-2) the low-frequency metal-ligand nu (2), and nu (3) fundamentals have been observed and derived harmonic, potential constants are compared to those of Ni(O-2). Interest will then be taken in the dioxide insertion products, their differences in bonding as well as their production mechanisms. The positions of all three fundamentals for OPtO and of the two IR-active vibrations for ONiO have been experimentally determined and are compared to recent ab initio predictions.