UV-Induced Photodegradation of 2-Aminothiazole-4-Carboxylic Acid: Identification of New Carbodiimide Molecules
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The UV-induced photolysis of 2-aminothiazole-4-carboxylic acid (ACA), a biologically active molecule, was studied using the infrared matrix isolation method. As the first step of photolysis, a decarboxylation reaction occurred. Subsequently, two main photolysis pathways of 2-aminothiazole were observed, during which a number of new molecules, including potential prebiotic carbodiimides or molecular complexes, were identified. The CS–CN bond cleavage path produced N-(1-sulfanylethen-2-yl)carbodiimide (fp1), N-(thiiran-2-yl)carbodiimide (fp3), N-(1-thioethan-2-yl)carbodiimide (fp2), N-(1-thioethan-1-yl)carbodiimide (fp4) and N-(1-thioethan-2-yl)cyanamide (fp33), which were identified for the first time. In this channel, additional disruption of the N–C bond produced cyanamide (fp27) and thiirene (fp28) and subsequent photoreactions generated carbodiimide (fp29) or ethynethiol (fp30). The CS–CC bond cleavage path occurred simultaneously and produced several new molecules: N’-ethynylcarbamimidothioic acid (fp14), N-ethynylcarbamimidothioic acid (fp17), N-ethenylidenecarbamimidothioic acid (fp18) and N-ethenylidenethiourea (fp15). In this channel, additional disruption of the N–C bond produced acetylene (fp23) and N-thiolcarbodiimide (fp26). Among the small molecules, N-thiolcarbodiimide and thiirene, as well as all molecular complexes, were observed for the first time.
Source: Molecules
Authors: Daria Bumażnik, Magdalena Sałdyka
Institution: University of Wrocław
Language: English
Subfield: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W4414579000