A Vacuum Ultraviolet Photoionization Study on the Formation of N-methyl Formamide (HCONHCH3) in Deep Space: A Potential Interstellar Molecule with a Peptide Bond

作者：Frigge Robert; Zhu Cheng; Turner Andrew M; Abpl****p Matthew J; Bergantini Alexandre; Sun Bing Jian; Chen Yue Lin; Chang Agnes H H; Kaiser Ralf I^*

来源：Astrophysical Journal, 2018, 862(1): 84.

DOI：10.3847/1538-4357/aacc64

• astrobiology
• astrochemistry
• cosmic rays
• ISM: molecules
• methods: laboratory: solid state
• molecular processes

As one of the simplest molecules containing a peptide bond, N-methyl formamide (HCONHCH3) represents a potential key molecule involved in the peptide bond polymerization in extraterrestrial ices. Detected tentatively toward the star-forming region Sgr B2(N2), the synthetic pathways have previously been elusive. By exploiting isomer-selective detection of the reaction products via photoionization, coupled with reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PI-ReTOF-MS), we present compelling evidence for the formation of N-methyl formamide (HCONHCH3) in astrochemically relevant ice mixtures of methylamine (CH3NH2) and carbon monoxide (CO), upon irradiation with energetic electrons as generated in the track of galactic cosmic ray particles (GCRs) penetrating interstellar ices. As one of the simplest molecules containing a peptide bond (-CO-NH-), N-methyl formamide could represent a benchmark involved in radiation-induced peptide bond polymerization in extraterrestrial ices, and thus bring us closer to revealing where in the Universe the molecular precursors linked to the origins of life might have been synthesized.

• 出版日期2018-7-20
• 单位东华大学