Search for Interstellar Methoxyacetonitrile and Cyanoethanol: Insights Into Coupling of Cyano- to Methanol and Ammonia Chemistry

Details Search for Interstellar Methoxyacetonitrile and Cyanoethanol: Insights Into Coupling of Cyano- to Methanol and Ammonia Chemistry Search for Interstellar Methoxyacetonitrile and Cyanoethanol: Insights Into Coupling of Cyano- to Methanol and Ammonia Chemistry

Dec 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010apj...724..994b&link_type=abstract

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 724, Issue 2, pp. 994-1005 (2010).

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Astrochemistry, Evolution, Ism: Molecules, Stars: Protostars

Scientific paper

As part of an effort to study gas-grain chemical models in star-forming regions as they relate to molecules containing cyanide (-C≡N) groups, we present here a search for the molecules 2-cyanoethanol (OHCH2CH2CN) and methoxyacetonitrile (CH3OCH2CN) in the galactic center region SgrB2. These species are structural isomers of each other and are targeted to investigate the cross-coupling of pathways emanating from the photolysis products of methanol and ammonia with pathways involving cyano-containing molecules. Methanol and ammonia ices are two of the main repositories of the elements C, O, and N in cold clouds and understanding their link to cyanide chemistry could give important insights into prebiotic molecular evolution. Neither species was positively detected, but the upper limits we determined allow comparison to the general patterns gleaned from chemical models. Our results indicate the need for an expansion of the model networks to better deal with cyano-chemistry, in particular with respect to pathways including products of methanol photolysis. In addition to these results, the two main observational routes for detecting new interstellar molecules are discussed. One route is by decreasing detection limits at millimeter wavelength through spatial filtering with interferometric studies at the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), and the second is by searching for intense torsional states at THz frequencies using the Herschel Space Observatory. 2-cyanoethanol and methoxyacetonitrile would both be good test beds for exploring the capabilities of ALMA and Herschel in the study of complex interstellar chemistry.
Based on observations obtained with the IRAM 30 m telescope. IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany), and IGN (Spain).

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Search for Interstellar Methoxyacetonitrile and Cyanoethanol: Insights Into Coupling of Cyano- to Methanol and Ammonia Chemistry does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Search for Interstellar Methoxyacetonitrile and Cyanoethanol: Insights Into Coupling of Cyano- to Methanol and Ammonia Chemistry, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Search for Interstellar Methoxyacetonitrile and Cyanoethanol: Insights Into Coupling of Cyano- to Methanol and Ammonia Chemistry will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1478363