The Formation in the Gas Phase of HO-C=C-OH, H₂N-C=C-NH₂, H₂N-C=C-OH, and Related Compounds by Selective Reduction of their Cations

The novel molecules XC=CY where X and Y are OH, NH2, and OCH3, as well as hydroxy- and aminoketene, have been prepared and identified in the gas phase by neutralization-reionization mass spectrometry. It is concluded that these molecules reside in deep potential wells.