INVESTIGATING THE PRECURSORS OF ETHANOLAMINE, THE SIMPLEST PHOSPHOLIPID IN THE CELLULAR MEMBRANES DISCOVERED IN THE ISM

Alberton, Davide

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122384 Copy

Description

Title

INVESTIGATING THE PRECURSORS OF ETHANOLAMINE, THE SIMPLEST PHOSPHOLIPID IN THE CELLULAR MEMBRANES DISCOVERED IN THE ISM

Author(s)

Alberton, Davide

Contributor(s)

• Caselli, Paola
• Fortenberry, Ryan C.
• Inostroza, Natalia
• Endres, Christian
• Lattanzi, Valerio

Issue Date

2023-06-22

Keyword(s)

Astronomy

Abstract

Ethanolamine (NH₂CH₂CH₂OH, EtA), a key molecular component of phospholipids in cell membranes, has been recently detected in the G+ .693 molecular cloud¹. This same molecule was detected in the Almahata Sitta meteorite as well. In this case, its formation has been suggested to be due to the unusual thermal conditions that might have caused the decomposition of amino acids². On the other hand, its formation route in the interstellar medium (ISM) is suggested in a work led by Charnley et al. 2002³. Due to the addition of a carbon atom to CO, through subsequent hydrogenation and nitrogenation steps of the already detected HCCO radical intermediate, it might be possible to produce EtA. Additionally, a recent study showed the NH₃+CO+C reaction to be a barrier-less process, paving the way to an alternative route to the formation of EtA precursors in the ISM⁴. We herein perform a comprehensive quantum chemical analysis of the isomers involved in the EtA formation pathway. We extend the ensemble of isomers that can take part in this route, and we compute the energy of those that might be acting as crucial actors in the chemical steps. We optimise their molecular geometry and obtained a set of rotational and distortion constants at a high level of theory to assist their spectroscopic characterization for their future interstellar search.

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

Text

Language

eng

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122384

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15278/isms.2023.6938

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