The gas-phase reactions of Nb,+ (n = 2-6) with C2& are studied by Fourier transform mass spectrometry. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) and ion-molecule reactions are used to probe the product ion structures.The sequential reactions of N b 2 + are believed to involve ligand coupling, while for the larger clusters this mechanism is less important. The bonding between the Nb atoms and the C atoms of the ligand in the product ions becomes stronger with increasing cluster size. One of the major product ions from the reaction of Nb4+ with ethylene, Nb4C4+, is especially stable and believed to be the distorted 2 x 2 x 2 cubic "nanocrystal" structure observed in supersonic expansions. The thermochemical limits, Do(Nb,+ -CZ) L 186.3 kcaYmol (n = 3-6), were derived on the basis of the observation of the complete dehydrogenation of ethylene.