Electrospray mass spectrometry is used to investigate thereactivity of the coordinatively unsaturated ions[M(bipy)
2]
2+ (M = Cr, Ru, Os) and[M(bipy)]
+ (M = Co, Ni) toward O
2 to givethe dioxygen adducts[M(bipy)
2O
2]
2+ (M = Cr, Ru,Os) and [M(bipy)O
2]
+ (M = Co, Ni).CID experiments with the[M(bipy)
2O
2]
2+and [M(bipy)O
2]
+ adducts show that theloss of a mass equivalent to two oxygen atoms is thepredominantprocess for [M(bipy)
2O
2]
2+ (M= Cr, Ru) and [M(bipy)O
2]
+ (M =Ni, Co). In contrast, weak signals assignedto [Os(bipy)O
2]
+,[Os(bipy)O
2]
2+, andbipy
+![](/images/entities/bull.gif)
indicate loss of a bipyridine ligandfrom [Os(bipy)
2O
2]
2+ratherthan O
2 loss. This result may have structuralimplications and a dioxo Os(VI) complex cation,[Os(bipy)
2(O)
2]
2+,is proposed for the Os-dioxygen adduct. This assignment isconsistent with the known solution and solid-statechemistry of osmium. Formation of[Os
VI(bipy)
2(O)
2]
2+involves a formal oxidation of the Os(II) to anOs(VI)and concomitant O
2 four-electron reduction ofO
2. Even though loss of O
2 rather thanbipy was the predominantprocess observed in CID experiments for the Ru adduct, a structuralformulation of an analogous dioxo speciesis not excluded for[Ru(bipy)
2O
2]
2+.