Interstellar formation of lactaldehyde, a key intermediate in the methylglyoxal pathway.

Autor: Wang J; W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.; Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA., Zhang C; W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.; Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA., Marks JH; W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.; Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA., Evseev MM; Samara National Research University, Samara, Russia., Kuznetsov OV; Samara National Research University, Samara, Russia., Antonov IO; Samara National Research University, Samara, Russia. pfizeke@gmail.com., Kaiser RI; W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA. ralfk@hawaii.edu.; Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA. ralfk@hawaii.edu.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2024 Nov 24; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 10189. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Nov 24.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54562-x
Abstrakt: Aldehydes are ubiquitous in star-forming regions and carbonaceous chondrites, serving as essential intermediates in metabolic pathways and molecular mass growth processes to vital biomolecules necessary for the origins of life. However, their interstellar formation mechanisms have remained largely elusive. Here, we unveil the formation of lactaldehyde (CH 3 CH(OH)CHO) by barrierless recombination of formyl (HĊO) and 1-hydroxyethyl (CH 3 ĊHOH) radicals in interstellar ice analogs composed of carbon monoxide (CO) and ethanol (CH 3 CH 2 OH). Lactaldehyde and its isomers 3-hydroxypropanal (HOCH 2 CH 2 CHO), ethyl formate (CH 3 CH 2 OCHO), and 1,3-propenediol (HOCH 2 CHCHOH) are identified in the gas phase utilizing isomer-selective photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry and isotopic substitution studies. These findings reveal fundamental formation pathways for complex, biologically relevant aldehydes through non-equilibrium reactions in interstellar environments. Once synthesized, lactaldehyde can act as a key precursor to critical biomolecules such as sugars, sugar acids, and amino acids in deep space.
Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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