M<inf>4</inf>C<inf>9</inf>⁺(M = Ti, V): New gas phase clusters

New metal-carbon clusters, M4C9+ (M =Ti, V), generated using a combined thermal arc discharge evaporation set-up, have been studied with quadrupole mass spectrometry. Reactivities of these clusters have been investigated by means of association reactions with H2O. Metal-carbon clusters of other compositions have also been studied. We speculate on the mechanism of formation of larger metal-carbon clusters.