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arXiv · 2203.14728

Precursors of the RNA-world in space: Detection of ($Z$)-1,2-ethenediol in the interstellar medium, a key intermediate in sugar formation

Víctor M. Rivilla·Laura Colzi·Izaskun Jiménez-Serra·Jesús Martín-Pintado·Andrés Megías·Mattia Melosso·Luca Bizzocchi·Álvaro López-Gallifa·Antonio Martínez-Henares·Sarah Massalkhi·Belén Tercero·Pablo de Vicente·Jean-Claude Guillemin·Juan García de la Concepción·Fernando Rico-Villas·Shaoshan Zeng·Sergio Martín·Miguel A. Requena-Torres·Francesca Tonolo·Silvia Alessandrini·Luca Dore·Vincenzo Barone·Cristina Puzzarini
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Abstract

We present the first detection of ($Z$)-1,2-ethenediol, (CHOH)$_2$, the enol form of glycolaldehyde, in the interstellar medium towards the G+0.693-0.027 molecular cloud located in the Galactic Center. We have derived a column density of (1.8$\pm$0.1)$\times$10$^{13}$ cm$^{-2}$, which translates into a molecular abundance with respect to molecular hydrogen of 1.3$\times$10$^{-10}$. The abundance ratio between glycolaldehyde and ($Z$)-1,2-ethenediol is $\sim$5.2. We discuss several viable formation routes through chemical reactions from precursors such as HCO, H$_2$CO, CHOH or CH$_2$CHOH. We also propose that this species might be an important precursor in the formation of glyceraldehyde (HOCH$_2$CHOHCHO) in the interstellar medium through combination with the hydroxymethylene (CHOH) radical.

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Víctor M. Rivilla, Laura Colzi, Izaskun Jiménez-Serra, Jesús Martín-Pintado, Andrés Megías, Mattia Melosso, Luca Bizzocchi, Álvaro López-Gallifa, Antonio Martínez-Henares, Sarah Massalkhi, Belén Tercero, Pablo de Vicente, Jean-Claude Guillemin, Juan García de la Concepción, Fernando Rico-Villas, Shaoshan Zeng, Sergio Martín, Miguel A. Requena-Torres, Francesca Tonolo, Silvia Alessandrini, Luca Dore, Vincenzo Barone, Cristina Puzzarini. 2022-03-28. Precursors of the RNA-world in space: Detection of ($Z$)-1,2-ethenediol in the interstellar medium, a key intermediate in sugar formation. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213%2Fac6186

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