Thiols in the ISM: first detection of HC(O)SH and confirmation of C${}_2$H${}_5$SH

Abstract

The chemical compounds carrying the thiol group (-SH) have been considered essential in recent prebiotic studies regarding the polymerization of amino acids. We have searched for this kind of compounds toward the Galactic Centre quiescent cloud G+0.693-0.027. We report the first detection in the interstellar space of the trans-isomer of monothioformic acid (t-HC(O)SH) with an abundance of $\sim$1$\times$10${}^{-10}$. Additionally, we provide a solid confirmation of the gauche isomer of ethyl mercaptan (g-C${}_2$H${}_5$SH) with an abundance of $\sim$3$\times$10${}^{-10}$, and we also detect methyl mercaptan (CH${}_3$SH) with an abundance of $\sim$5$\times$10${}^{-9}$. Abundance ratios were calculated for the three SH-bearing species and their OH-analogues, revealing similar trends between alcohols and thiols with increasing complexity. Possible chemical routes for the interstellar synthesis of t-HC(O)SH, CH${}_3$SH and C${}_2$H${}_5$SH are discussed, as well as the relevance of these compounds in the synthesis of prebiotic proteins in the primitive Earth.

16 pages, 6 figures, article accepted in Astrophysical Journal Letters; typos corrected

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