Lithium monoxide anion (LiO−) is a superbase existing in the gas phase. It was the strongest known base until 2008, when the isomeric diethynylbenzene dianions were determined to have a higher proton affinity. The methanide ionCH−3 was the strongest known base before lithium monoxide anion was discovered.[2]
The above method to synthesize the lithium monoxide anion is inefficient and difficult to carry out. The required ion rapidly reacts with traces of moisture and molecular oxygen present in the air. The reaction is further intensified by the high pressure argon that is introduced into the instrument to carry out the CID step.[4]
^Srivastava, Ambrish Kumar; Misra, Neeraj (6 February 2016). "OLi3O– anion: Designing the strongest base to date using OLi3 superalkali". Chemical Physics Letters. 648: 152–155. Bibcode:2016CPL...648..152S. doi:10.1016/j.cplett.2016.02.010.