Millimeter/submillimeter Spectroscopy Of Prebiotic Molecules Formed From The O(1d) Insertion Into Methylamine

Hays, Brian

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/51107 Copy

Description

Title

Millimeter/submillimeter Spectroscopy Of Prebiotic Molecules Formed From The O(1d) Insertion Into Methylamine

Author(s)

Hays, Brian

Contributor(s)

• Widicus Weaver, Susanna L.
• Roy, Althea A.M.

Issue Date

2014-06-17

Keyword(s)

Astronomy

Abstract

Astrochemical models of interstellar chemistry predict the formation of many complex molecules of prebiotic interest, including aminomethanol (HOCH$_2$NH$_2$). Aminomethanol has been proposed as the gas-phase interstellar precursor to glycine, the simplest amino acid, in star-forming regions. Aminomethanol is therefore a potential tracer of prebiotic interstellar chemistry. However, the laboratory spectrum of aminomethanol remains elusive because it is unstable under typical laboratory conditions. A new (sub)millimeter spectrometer is being used to study the reaction between O($^1$D) and methylamine to form aminomethanol. O($^1$D) is produced via laser photolysis of ozone in a fused silica tube, where it reacts with methylamine before a supersonic expansion. The insertion reaction of O($^1$D) with methylamine to form aminomethanol is highly exothermic, leading to a mixture of additional reaction products that have been identified through their rotational spectroscopic signatures. Here we will present the experimental setup, observed reaction products, and initial results towards the characterization of aminomethanol. Comparisons will also be made with observational spectra from several star-forming regions.

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

text

Language

English

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/51107

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15278/isms.2014.TA05

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 by the authors. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Owning Collections