Rotational Spectrum and First Interstellar Detection of 2-Methoxyethanol Using ALMA Observations of NGC 6334I

Abstract

We use both chirped-pulse Fourier transform and frequency modulated absorption spectroscopy to study the rotational spectrum of 2-methoxyethanol in several frequency regions ranging from 8.7-500 GHz. The resulting rotational parameters permitted a search for this molecule in Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations toward the massive protocluster NGC 6334I as well as source B of the low-mass protostellar system IRAS 16293-2422. 25 rotational transitions are observed in the ALMA Band 4 data toward NGC 6334I, resulting in the first interstellar detection of 2-methoxyethanol. A column density of $1.3_{-0.9}^{+1.4}\times 10^{17}$ cm${}^{-2}$ is derived at an excitation temperature of $143_{-39}^{+31}$ K. However, molecular signal is not observed in the Band 7 data toward IRAS 16293-2422B and an upper limit column density of $2.5\times 10^{15}$ cm${}^{-2}$ is determined. Various possible formation pathways--including radical recombination and insertion reactions--are discussed. We also investigate physical differences between the two interstellar sources that could result in the observed abundance variations.

Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters