Reactions of laser-ablated vanadium atoms with dioxygen. Infrared spectra of VO, VO2, OOVO2, and V2O2 in solid argon

Laser-ablated V atoms react with O-2 to give primarily the bent VO2 dioxide molecule and a smaller yield of the monoxide VO. The OVO valence angle is estimated as 118+/-3 degrees from oxygen isotopic v(3) frequencies and 121 degrees from DFT calculations. New absorptions appear on annealing to 35 K that can be assigned to two V2O2 isomers and the superoxo adduct to VO2, namely the OOVO2 molecule. Both VO2 and OOVO2 reveal weak v(1) + v(3) combination bands, which support the assignment of v(1) and v(3) fundamental vibrations.