Synthesis of solid-state Complex Organic Molecules through accretion of simple species at low temperatures

Abstract

Complex organic molecules (COMs) have been detected in the gas-phase in cold and lightless molecular cores. Recent solid-state laboratory experiments have provided strong evidence that COMs can be formed on icy grains through 'non-energetic' processes. In this contribution, we show that propanal and 1-propanol can be formed in this way at the low temperature of 10 K. Propanal has already been detected in space. 1-propanol is an astrobiologically relevant molecule, as it is a primary alcohol, and has not been astronomically detected. Propanal is the major product formed in the C2H2 + CO + H experiment, and 1-propanol is detected in the subsequent propanal + H experiment. The results are published in Qasim et al. (2019c). ALMA observations towards IRAS 16293-2422B are discussed and provide a 1-propanol:propanal upper limit of < 0.35 - 0.55, which are complemented by computationally-derived activation barriers in addition to the performed laboratory experiments.

arXiv commentProceedings IAU Symposium No. 350, 2019, Laboratory Astrophysics: from Observations to Interpretation

References in corpus (5)

• Observations of the Icy Universe
• Simulation of the Formation and Morphology of Ice Mantles on Interstellar Grains
• H-atom addition and abstraction reactions in mixed CO, H2CO and CH3OH ices: an extended view on complex organic molecule formation
• Formation of interstellar propanal and 1-propanol ice: a pathway involving solid-state CO hydrogenation
• Alcohols on the rocks: solid-state formation in a H3CCCH + OH cocktail under dark cloud conditions