Dark-red O8 molecules in solid oxygen: Rhomboid clusters, not S8-like rings

Abstract

(Figure Presented) Under pressure and full of surprises: At very high pressure, oxygen molecules O2 combine to give - rather than the well-known crown-shaped ring form of elemental sulfur - the novel molecular unit O8, or (O2)4, which exhibits strong bonds in the diatomic units but with much weaker π*-π* bonds between them (see picture). © 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.