biostudies-literaturePaczelt VDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftFonds der Chemischen Industrie11103-11109https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12097145biostudies-literatureUnknown16(24)Simple imines have been detected in space and are considered as building blocks to larger heteroaromatic, cyclic and biologically relevant compounds. Herein, we revisited the formation of the simplest acylimine, namely <i>N</i>-methyleneformamide, by high-vacuum flash pyrolysis (HVFP) as well as its spectroscopic characterization by cryogenic matrix isolation infrared (IR) and UV/Vis spectroscopy. <i>N</i>-Methyleneformamide prefers a <i>gauche</i> over an s-<i>trans</i> conformation in contrast to the parent 1,3-butadiene. In UV-photolysis experiments we identified formaldehyde:HCN and formaldimine:CO complexes as the major decomposition products. As further photolysis products we observed HCN:CO and HNC:CO complexes. All experimental findings are supported by deuterium labeling experimenChemical scienceGeneration and UV-photolysis of <i>N</i>-methyleneformamide.PMC12097145Liebig FellowshipGermany's Excellence Strategy – EXC-2033 – 390530220027Eckhardt AKPaczelt VKuhn DDrabkin VDfalseGeneration and UV-photolysis of <i>N</i>-methyleneformamide.Simple imines have been detected in space and are considered as building blocks to larger heteroaromatic, cyclic and biologically relevant compounds. Herein, we revisited the formation of the simplest acylimine, namely <i>N</i>-methyleneformamide, by high-vacuum flash pyrolysis (HVFP) as well as its spectroscopic characterization by cryogenic matrix isolation infrared (IR) and UV/Vis spectroscopy. <i>N</i>-Methyleneformamide prefers a <i>gauche</i> over an s-<i>trans</i> conformation in contrast to the parent 1,3-butadiene. In UV-photolysis experiments we identified formaldehyde:HCN and formaldimine:CO complexes as the major decomposition products. As further photolysis products we observed HCN:CO and HNC:CO complexes. All experimental findings are supported by deuterium labeling experimen2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jun2026-07-15T05:40:04.751Z2026-07-01T03:07:16.689ZS-EPMC120971454041730010.1039/d5sc02777b