Carbide Dihydrides: Carbonaceous Species Identified in Ta4+-Mediated Methane Dehydrogenation

Abstract

The products of methane dehydrogenation by gas-phase Ta4+ clusters are structurally characterized using infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy in conjunction with quantum chemical calculations. The obtained spectra of [4Ta,C,2H]+ reveal a dominance of vibrational bands of a H2Ta4C+ carbide dihydride structure over those indicative for a HTa4CH+ carbyne hydride one, as is unambiguously verified by studies employing various methane isotopologues. Because methane dehydrogenation by metal cations M+ typically leads to the formation of either MCH2+ carbene or HMCH+ carbyne hydride structures, the observation of a H2MC+ carbide dihydride structure implies that it is imperative to consider this often-neglected class of carbonaceous intermediates in the reaction of metals with hydrocarbons.