Although the small diatomic molecule known as dicarbon or C <sub> 2 </sub> has been known for a long time, its properties and reactivity have really only been determined <em> via </em> its very high temperature generation. My interest started in 2010, when I speculatively proposed here that the related isoelectronic species <strong> C⩸N <sup> + </sup> </strong> might sustain a quadruple bond.