Titanium Insertion into CO Bonds in Anionic Ti–CO₂ Complexes

We explore the structures of [Ti(CO2)y]− cluster anions using infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculations. The existence of spectral signatures of metal carbonyl CO stretching modes shows that insertion of titanium atoms into C–O bonds represents an important reaction during the formation of these clusters. In addition to carbonyl groups, the infrared spectra show that the titanium center is coordinated to oxalato, carbonato, and oxo ligands, which form along with the metal carbonyls. The presence of a metal oxalato ligand promotes C–O bond insertion in these systems. These results highlight the affinity of titanium for C–O bond insertion processes.