Faculty and Student Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-20-2022
Abstract
Although methanediamine (CH2(NH2)2) has historically been the subject of theoretical scrutiny, it has never been isolated to date. Here, we report the preparation of methanediamine (CH2(NH2)2)—the simplest diamine. Low-temperature interstellar analog ices composed of ammonia and methylamine were exposed to energetic electrons which act as proxies for secondary electrons produced in the track of galactic cosmic rays. These experimental conditions, which simulate the conditions within cold molecular clouds, . result in radical formation and initiate aminomethyl (ĊH2NH2) and amino (NH2) radical chemistry. Exploiting tunable photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PI-ReToF-MS) to make isomer-specific assignments, methanediamine was identified in the gas phase upon sublimation, while its isomer methylhydrazine (CH3NHNH2) was not observed. The molecular formula was confirmed to be CH6N2 through the use of isotopically labeled reactants. Methanediamine is the simplest molecule to contain the NCN moiety and could be a vital intermediate in the abiotic formation of heterocyclic and aromatic systems such as nucleobases, which all contain the NCN moiety.
Relational Format
journal article
Recommended Citation
Marks, J. H., Wang, J., Fortenberry, R. C., & Kaiser, R. I. (2022). Preparation of methanediamine (CH 2 (NH 2 ) 2 )—A precursor to nucleobases in the interstellar medium. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(51), e2217329119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2217329119
DOI
10.1073/pnas.2217329119
Accessibility Status
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