More π, please: What drives the formation of unsaturated molecules in the interstellar medium?

ABSTRACT: We present a computational investigation into the fragmentation pathways of ethanolamine (C₂H₇NO, EtA), propanol (C₃H₈O, PrO), butanenitrile (C₄H₇N, BuN), and glycolamide (C₂H₅NO₂, GlA)-saturated organic molecules detected in the interstellar medium (ISM), particularly in the molecular cloud complex Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2) and its molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027. Using electron-impact ionization data and Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate how cosmic rays, cosmic-ray-induced UV fields, and shock-induced heating can induce the fragmentation of these molecules, resulting in the formation of unsaturated species with extended π-bond networks. Despite the attenuation of e

SUBMITTER: Londono-Restrepo J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11718301 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature