Laser-ablated Mn and Re atoms react with H 2 upon co-condensation in excess argon and neon and in pure hydrogen to produce metal hydrides. The reaction products are identified through isotopic substitution (D 2 , HD, and H 2 + D 2 ) and density functional theory calculations. The 7 Σ + ground state diatomic MnH is observed at 1493.3 cm -1 in solid neon, 1486.4 cm -1 in hydrogen, and 1477.9 cm -1 in argon. The ReH molecule gives a sharp band at 1985.0 cm -1 in argon, which is suggested to be the 5 Σ + ground state by DFT calculations. The MnH 2 molecule provides ν 3 modes at 1600.8 cm -1 in solid neon, 1598.0 cm -1 in solid hydrogen, and 1592.3 cm -1 in solid argon, and the analogous ReH 2 molecule absorbs at 1646.4 cm -1 in solid argon. In addition MnH 2is observed at 1465.6 cm -1 in solid neon. The bonding properties of the first row transition metal dihydrides are compared, and reaction mechanisms of Mn and Re with H 2 are discussed. The novel ReH 4 molecule absorbs at 2037.2 and 590.6 cm -1 . This work reports the first experimental evidence for neutral rhenium hydride molecules.