Methanetetrol and the final frontier in ortho acids.

ABSTRACT: The rapid dissociation of methanetetrol (C(OH)₄) has been suggested as an impediment to its observation, despite the stability of its substituted derivative orthocarbonates (C(OR)₄). Here, the tunability of synchrotron-generated vacuum ultraviolet light and the sensitivity of photoionization are exploited to probe the exotic chemistry of the interstellar medium toward the discovery of this molecule. Laboratory-made model ices simulate the composition of astrophysical ices under conditions mimicking those found in dense interstellar molecular clouds with low temperature (5-10 K) and low pressure (<10^-10Torr). High-energy irradiation simulates secondary electrons produced by galactic cosmic rays, one of few sources of energy that penetrate to the icy cloud i

SUBMITTER: Marks JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12260057 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature