RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 First Glycine Isomer Detected in the Interstellar Medium: Glycolamide (NH2C(O)CH2OH)
A1 Rivilla, Víctor M.
A1 Sanz Novo, Miguel
A1 Jiménez Serra, Izaskun
A1 Martín Pintado, Jesús
A1 Colzi, Laura
A1 Zeng, Shaoshan
A1 Megías, Andrés
A1 López Gallifa, Álvaro
A1 Martínez Henares, Antonio
A1 Massalkhi, Sarah
A1 Tercero, Belén
A1 Vicente, Pablo de
A1 Martín, Sergio
A1 Andrés, David San
A1 Requena Torres, Miguel A.
A1 Alonso, José Luis
K1 Isómero de glicina
K1 Glycine Isomer
K1 Glycolamide (NH2C(O)CH2OH)
K1 21 Astronomía y Astrofísica
AB We report the first detection in the interstellar medium (ISM) of a C2H5O2N isomer: syn-glycolamide (NH2C(O)CH2OH). The exquisite sensitivity at sub-mK levels of an ultradeep spectral survey carried out with the Yebes 40 m and IRAM 30 m telescopes toward the G+0.693–0.027 molecular cloud has allowed us to unambiguously identify multiple transitions of this species. We derived a column density of (7.4 ± 0.7) × 1012 cm−2, which implies a molecular abundance with respect to H2 of 5.5 × 10−11. The other C2H5O2N isomers, including the higher-energy anti conformer of glycolamide and two conformers of glycine, were not detected. The upper limit derived for the abundance of glycine indicates that this amino acid is surely less abundant than its isomer glycolamide in the ISM. The abundances of the C2H5O2N isomers cannot be explained in terms of thermodynamic equilibrium; thus, chemical kinetics need to be invoked. While the low abundance of glycine might not be surprising, based on the relative low abundances of acids in the ISM compared to other compounds (e.g., alcohols, aldehydes, or amines), several chemical pathways can favor the formation of its isomer glycolamide. It can be formed through radical–radical reactions on the surface of dust grains. The abundances of these radicals can be significantly boosted in an environment affected by a strong ultraviolet field induced by cosmic rays, such as that expected in G+0.693–0.027. Therefore, as shown by several recent molecular detections toward this molecular cloud, it stands out as the best target to discover new species with carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen with increasing chemical complexity.
PB IOP Publishing
SN 2041-8205
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/61057
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/61057
LA eng
NO The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2023, Volume 953, Number 2
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 27-dic-2024