Matrix infrared spectra and density functional calculations of TiO3 and TiO5 in solid argon.

The reaction of titanium monoxide molecules and O2 was studied by using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy as well as theoretical calculations. The titanium monoxide molecule reacts with O2 to form TiO 3 spontaneously on annealing. The TiO3 molecule is characterized to be a side-on bonded peroxo titanium monoxide complex, (eta(2)-O2)TiO, which has a nonplanar Cs symmetry with a 1A' ground state. The (eta(2)-O2)TiO complex can further coordinate another dioxygen to give TiO 5, a disuperoxo titanium monoxide complex, (eta(2)-O2)(2)TiO, which possesses a 3A'' ground state and a nonplanar Cs geometry.