Precursors of the RNA World in Space: Detection of ( Z)-1,2-ethenediol in the Interstellar Medium, a Key Intermediate in Sugar Formation
V.M. Rivilla
(1, 2)
,
L. Colzi
(1, 2)
,
I. Jiménez-Serra
(2)
,
J. Martín-Pintado
(2)
,
A. Megías
(2)
,
M. Melosso
(3, 4)
,
L. Bizzocchi
(3)
,
Á. López-Gallifa
(2)
,
A. Martínez-Henares
(2)
,
S. Massalkhi
(2)
,
B. Tercero
(2)
,
P. de Vicente
,
J.-C. Guillemin
(5)
,
J. García de La Concepción
(2)
,
F. Rico-Villas
(2)
,
S. Zeng
(6)
,
S. Martín
(7)
,
M.A. Requena-Torres
(8, 9)
,
F. Tonolo
(3)
,
S. Alessandrini
(3)
,
L. Dore
(3)
,
V. Barone
(10)
,
C. Puzzarini
(3)
1
OAA -
INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri
2 CSIC - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Spain]
3 UNIBO - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna = University of Bologna
4 University of Naples Federico II = Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II
5 ISCR - Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes
6 RIKEN - RIKEN - Institute of Physical and Chemical Research [Japon]
7 JAO - Joint ALMA Observatory
8 University of Maryland System
9 Towson University [Towson, MD, United States]
10 SNS - Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
2 CSIC - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Spain]
3 UNIBO - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna = University of Bologna
4 University of Naples Federico II = Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II
5 ISCR - Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes
6 RIKEN - RIKEN - Institute of Physical and Chemical Research [Japon]
7 JAO - Joint ALMA Observatory
8 University of Maryland System
9 Towson University [Towson, MD, United States]
10 SNS - Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
B. Tercero
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 770052
- ORCID : 0000-0002-4782-5259
P. de Vicente
- Fonction : Auteur
Résumé
We present the first detection of (Z)-1,2-ethenediol, (CHOH)2, the enol form of glycolaldehyde, in the interstellar medium toward the G+0.693-0.027 molecular cloud located in the Galactic Center. We have derived a column density of (1.8 ± 0.1) × 1013 cm-2, which translates into a molecular abundance with respect to molecular hydrogen of 1.3 × 10-10. The abundance ratio between glycolaldehyde and (Z)-1,2-ethenediol is ∼5.2. We discuss several viable formation routes through chemical reactions from precursors such as HCO, H2CO, CHOH, or CH2CHOH. We also propose that this species might be an important precursor in the formation of glyceraldehyde (HOCH2CHOHCHO) in the interstellar medium through combination with the hydroxymethylene (CHOH) radical. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.