Quantum Tunneling Mediated Low-Temperature Synthesis of Interstellar Hemiacetals
Jia Wang, Anatoliy A. Nikolayev, Joshua H. Marks, Mason McAnally, Valeriy N. Azyazov, André K. Eckhardt, Alexander M. Mebel, Ralf I. Kaiser
Abstract
Sugars and sugar-related molecules are ubiquitous in carbonaceous meteorites and in star-forming regions, but the underlying mechanisms of their formation have remained largely elusive. Herein, we report an unconventional synthesis of the hemiacetal, ( R / S )-1-methoxyethanol (CH 3 OCH(OH)CH 3 ), through quantum tunneling mediated reactions in low-temperature interstellar model ices composed of acetaldehyde (CH 3 CHO) and methanol (CH 3 OH). The detection of racemic 1-methoxyethanol through a bottom-up synthesis from simple, abundant precursor molecules within interstellar ices represents a vital starting point to the formation of complex interstellar hemiacetals. Once synthesized, hemiacetals may act as possible precursors to interstellar sugars and sugar-related molecules in deep space.