Dihydroxycarbene HO-C̈-OH: Its formation in the gas-phase by electron transfer to its radical cation

Dihydroxycarbene, HO-C̈-OH, has been generated and identified in the gas-phase by electron capture of the corresponding radical cations in neutralization—reionization experiments. The precursor ions were made by dissociative ionization of dihydroxyfumaric acid and their structure was established on the basis of collision experiments. The experimental results are consistent with previously published ab initio calculations.