Glycinamide, a Glycine Precursor, Caught in the Gas Phase: A Laser-ablation Jet-cooled Rotational Study

Abstract

Glycinamide, a glycine precursor, has been successfully generated in the gas phase by laser ablation of its hydrochloride salt, and its microwave spectrum, recorded from 6 to16GHz using a Chirped Pulse Fourier Transform Microwave (LA-CP-FTMW) spectrometer, is reported for the first time. The existence of a single structure stabilized by a Na–H···NtH2 hydrogen bond has been revealed in the supersonic expansion. The complex nuclear quadrupole coupling hyperfine structure due to the two 14N nuclei has been completely resolved and analyzed using a Molecular Beam Fourier Transform Microwave spectrometer in combination with laser ablation (LA-MB-FTMW spectrometer). The first precise data obtained on this glycine precursor could be of great importance for possible future identifications in the interstellar medium.