Methylenimine and cyanomethanimine synthesis from ion irradiation of N-2-CH4 ice: Implication on the formation of prebiotic molecules in outer solar system bodies

Author(s)

Vasconcelos, F. A. ^[1] ; Pilling, S. ^[2] ; Agnihotri, A. ^[3] ; Rothard, H. ^[3] ; Boduch, P. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Fed Tocantins IFTO, Observ Fis Espacial, Campus Araguatins, Araguatins, TO - Brazil

^[2] Univ Vale Paraiba UNIVAP, Lab Astroquim & Astrobiol LASA, Av Shishima Hifumi 2911, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Normandie Univ, Ctr Rech Ions Mat & Photon, CIMAP CIRIL GANIL, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, F-14000 Caen - France

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ICARUS; v. 351, NOV 15 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The synthesis of methylenimine and cyanomethanimine from ion irradiation of N-2-CH4 ice was studied, in an attempt to simulate the role of medium mass cosmic rays and energetic solar particles in the processing of nitrogen-rich ices on cold astrophysical environments, such as those in the outer region of the solar system (e.g. Pluto, Charon, Triton, Makemake and Titan). The N-2-CH4 (90:10) ice mixture was irradiated at 9 K by 38.4 MeV Ca-40(9+) (0.96 MeV/u) at the GANIL facility (Caen/Fance). The evolution of the samples was monitored using insitu Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicate the formation of CH2NH and CH2NCN, which are considered species of interest in prebiotic chemistry. Other species produced by radiolysis were HCN, HNC, hydrocarbons and nitriles. Direct comparison of the laboratory spectrum from the mixture of reaction products provides an efficient way to focus on the identification of chemical synthesis routes for the production of molecules important in the development of life that are consistent with the chemical inventory and physical conditions on frozen moons and cold objects in the outer solar system. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/10492-3 - Study about the chemical evolution of astrophysical ices in the vicinity of young stellar objects employing experimental data in the infrared and computational modeling codes
• Grantee: Will Robson Monteiro Rocha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 09/18304-0 - Synthesis and degradation of prebiotic molecular species at planetary atmospheres, comets and interstellar ice analogs
• Grantee: Sergio Pilling Guapyassu de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants