Work

The production of HCN dimer and more complex oligomers in dense interstellar clouds

Year: 2001

Type: article

Abstract: Using quantum chemical and kinetic techniques, we show that the reaction between two HCN molecules under interstellar conditions cannot lead efficiently to a dimer of this species (H2C2N2), whatever its structure. If the dimerization reaction does not occur efficiently, then it is impossible to synthesize detectable abundances of the pre-biotic HCN oligomer adenine (H5C5N5) in the interstellar medium via successive neutral-neutral reactions between HCN and its dimer, trimer, and tetramer.

Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics

DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20010126

Authors: I. W. M. Smith, D. Talbi, E. Herbst

Institutions: University of Birmingham, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, The Ohio State University

Language: English

Topic: Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, Ohio State University

OpenAlex ID: W2056587395