Untangling the methane chemistry in interstellar and solar system ices toward ionizing radiation: a combined infrared and reflectron time-of-flight analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 5435-5468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Abplanalp ◽  
Brant M. Jones ◽  
Ralf I. Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Ionizing Radiation ◽  
Time Of Flight ◽  
Product Analysis ◽  
Complex Molecules

PI-ReTOF-MS product analysis of methane ice processed with ionizing radiation shows that complex molecules never detected before are easily produced.

scholarly journals The elusive cyclotriphosphazene molecule and its Dewar benzene–type valence isomer (P3N3)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (30) ◽  
pp. eaba6934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Zhu ◽  
André K. Eckhardt ◽  
Alexandre Bergantini ◽  
Santosh K. Singh ◽  
Peter R. Schreiner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Ionizing Radiation ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Chemical Bonding ◽  
Building Block ◽  
Time Of Flight ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Molecular Building Block ◽  
Phosphorus Chemistry

Although the chemistry of phosphorus and nitrogen has fascinated chemists for more than 350 years, the Hückel aromatic cyclotriphosphazene (P3N3, 2) molecule—a key molecular building block in phosphorus chemistry—has remained elusive. Here, we report a facile, versatile pathway producing cyclotriphosphazene and its Dewar benzene–type isomer (P3N3, 5) in ammonia-phosphine ices at 5 K exposed to ionizing radiation. Both isomers were detected in the gas phase upon sublimation via photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry and discriminated via isomer-selective photochemistry. Our findings provide a fundamental framework to explore the preparation of inorganic, isovalent species of benzene (C6H6) by formally replacing the C─H moieties alternatingly through phosphorus and nitrogen atoms, thus advancing our perception of the chemical bonding of phosphorus systems.

On the formation of ozone in oxygen-rich solar system ices via ionizing radiation

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 9469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney P. Ennis ◽  
Chris J. Bennett ◽  
Ralf I. Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Ionizing Radiation

scholarly journals Interstellar Dust and the Organic Inventories of Early Solar Systems

2004 ◽  
Vol 213 ◽  
pp. 163-168
Author(s):  
D. C. B. Whittet
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Interstellar Dust ◽  
Organic Molecules ◽  
Solar Nebula ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Interstellar Space ◽  
Complex Molecules ◽  
Solar Systems ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Interstellar Dust Grains

Interstellar dust grains are vectors for cosmic carbon and other biogenic chemical elements. They deliver carbon to protoplanetary disks in various refractory phases (amorphous, graphitic, etc.), and they are coated with icy mantles that contain organic molecules and water. The nature of the organics present in and on the dust appears to be closely related to physical conditions. Complex molecules may be synthesized when simple ices are irradiated. Astronomical observations show that this occurs in the vicinity of certain massive protostars, but it is not known whether our Solar System formed in such a region. Organic matter does not survive cycling though diffuse regions of interstellar space; any organics delivered to the early Earth must have originated in the parent molecular cloud, or in the solar nebula itself. A key question is thus identified: What was the star-formation environment of the Solar System? Possible constraints are briefly discussed.

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