Sulphur dioxide cooperation in hydrolysis reactions of vanadium oxide and hydroxide cluster dianions

Unprecedented hydrolysis reactions are observed in the gas phase in clusters containing doubly-charged vanadium oxides and hydroxide anions, SO2 and H2O. The experimental and computational study shows the cooperative effects of the vanadium species, V2O62− and HV3O92−, and sulfur dioxide on the enhancement of the hydrogen bonds of water that allows the acid–base reaction and charge separation in the doubly-charged ion.