Y. Ellinger

INTERSTELLAR COMPLEX ORGANIC MOLECULES AND THE MINIMUM ENERGY PRINCIPLE

The hunt for complex organic molecules (COMs) is a major concern for understanding the possible role of interstellar chemistry in the synthesis of the molecules that ultimately may be at the origin of life. A comprehensive screening of the 14 species effectively observed under 32 different isomeric forms in the interstellar medium has been done by means of high-level quantum chemical simulations. Confrontation between calculations and observations shows that when several isomers of the same generic formula are identified, it is always the most stable one that is the most abundant. Moreover, the abundance ratio of the most stable isomer to the other isomers is directly related to their energy difference. What can be seen as a minimum energy principle is verified in molecular clouds, hot cores/corinos, photodissociation regions, and asymptotic giant branch stars. The few exceptions encountered could be rationalized either by the existence of different routes of formation with no intermediate in common and/or specific depletion on the grains of one isomer with respect to the others.

Differential adsorption of complex organic molecules isomers at interstellar ice surfaces

Context. Over 20 of the ~150 different species detected in the interstellar and circumstellar media have also been identified in icy environments. For most of the species observed so far in the interstellar medium (ISM), the most abundant isomer of a given generic chemical formula is the most stable one (minimum energy principle – MEP) with few exceptions such as, for example, CH3COOH/HCOOCH3 and CH3CH2OH/CH3OCH3, whose formation is thought to occur on the icy mantles of interstellar grains. n nAims. We investigate whether differences found in the compositions of molecular ices and the surrounding gas phase could originate from differences between the adsorption of one isomer from that of another at the ice surface. n nMethods. We performed a coherent and concerted theoretical/experimental study of the adsorption energies of the four molecules mentioned above, i.e. acetic acid (AA)/methyl formate (MF) and ethanol (EtOH)/dimethyl ether (DME) on the surface of water ice at low temperature. The question was first addressed theoretically at LCT using solid state periodic density functional theory (DFT) to represent the organized solid support. The experimental determination of the ice/molecule interaction energies was then carried out independently by two teams at LPMAA and LERMA/LAMAp using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) under an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) between 70 and 160 K. n nResults. For each pair of isomers, theory and experiments both agree that the most stable isomer (AA or EtOH) interacts more efficiently with the water ice than the higher energy isomer (MF or DME). This differential adsorption can be clearly seen in the different desorption temperatures of the isomers. It is not related to their intrinsic stability but instead to both AA and EtOH producing more and stronger hydrogen bonds with the ice surface. n nConclusions. We show that hydrogen bonding may play an important role in the release of organic species from grains and propose that, depending on the environment, differential adsorption should not be rejected as a possible way of interpreting MEP exceptions.

H3+ as a trap for noble gases-3: Multiple trapping of neon, argon, and krypton in XnH3+ (n=1―3)

Recent studies on the formation of XH(3)(+) noble gas complexes have shown strategic implications for the composition of the atmospheres of the giant planets as well as for the composition of comets. One crucial factor in the astrophysical process is the relative abundances of the noble gases versus H(3)(+). It is the context in which the possibility for clustering with more than one noble gas (X(n)H(3)(+) up to n = 3) has been investigated for noble gases X ranging from neon to krypton. In order to assert our results, a variety of methods have been used including ab initio coupled cluster CCSD and CCSD(T), MP2, and density functional BH&HLYP levels of theory. All complexes with one, two, and three noble gases are found to be stable in the Ne, Ar, and Kr families. These stable structures are planar with the noble gases attached to the apices of the H(3)(+) triangle. The binding energy of the nth atom, defined as the X(n)H(3)(+) --> X(n-1)H(3)(+) + X reaction energy, increases slightly with n varying from 1 to 3 in the neon series, while it decreases in the argon series and shows a minimum for n = 2 in the krypton series. The origin of this phenomenon is to be found in the variations in the respective vibrational energies. A topological analysis of the electron localization function shows the importance of the charge transfer from the noble gases toward H(3)(+) as a driving force in the bonding along the series. It is also consistent with the increase in the atomic polarizabilities from neon to krypton. Rotational constants and harmonic frequencies are reported in order to provide a body of data to be used for the detection in laboratory prior to space observations. This study strongly suggests that the noble gases could be sequestered even in an environment where the H(3)(+) abundance is small.

GAS-PHASE SEQUESTRATION OF NOBLE GASES IN THE PROTOSOLAR NEBULA: POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES ON THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM COMPOSITION

We address the problem of the sequestration of Ar, Kr, and Xe by H in the gas-phase conditions encountered during the cooling of protoplanetary disks when H is competing with other species present in the same environment. Using high-level ab initio simulations, we try to quantify other sequestration possibilities involving He, H, H2O, and H3O+ present in the protosolar nebula. Apart from the fact that H complexes formed with heavy noble gases are found to be by far much more stable than those formed with He or H2O, we show that H2D+ and H3O+, both products of the reactions of H with HD and H2O, can also be efficient trapping agents for Ar, Kr, and Xe. Meanwhile, the abundance profile of H in the outer part of the nebula is revisited with the use of an evolutionary accretion disk model that allows us to investigate the possibility that heavy noble gases can be sequestered by H at earlier epochs than those corresponding to their trapping in planetesimals. We find that H might be abundant enough in the outer protosolar nebula to trap Xe and Kr prior their condensation epochs, implying that their abundances should be solar in Saturns current atmosphere and below the observational limit in Titan. The same scenario predicts that comets formed at high heliocentric distances should also be depleted in Kr and Xe. In situ measurements, such as those planed with the Rosetta mission on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, will be critical to check the validity of our hypotheses.

A new weapon for the interstellar complex organic molecule hunt: the minimum energy principle

Context. The hunt for the interstellar complex organic molecules (COMs) supposed to be the building blocks of the molecules at the origin of life is a challenging but very expensive task. It starts with laboratory experiments, associated with theoretical calculations, that give the line frequencies and strengths of the relevant molecules to be identified and finishes with observations at the telescopes. Aims. The present study aims to suggest possible guidelines to optimize this hunt. Levering on the minimum energy principle (MEP) presented in a previous study, we discuss the link between thermodynamic stability and detectability of a number of structures in the important families of amides, sugars and aminonitriles. Methods. The question of the relative stability of these different species is addressed by means of quantum density functional theory simulations. The hybrid B3LYP formalism was used throughout. All 72 molecules part of this survey were treated on an equal footing. Each structure, fully optimized, was verified to be a stationary point by vibrational analysis. Results. A comprehensive screening of 72 isomers of CH3NO, C2H5NO, C3H7NO, C2H4O2 ,C 3H6O3 and C2H4N2 chemical formula has been carried out. We found that formamide, acetamide and propanamide (the first two identified in the Inter-Stellar Medium) are the most stable compounds in their families demonstrating at the same time that the peptide bond >N-C=O at the origin of life is the most stable bond that can be formed. Dihydroxyacetone, whose detection awaits for confirmation, is far from being the most stable isomer of its family while aminoacetonitrile, that has been recently identified, is effectively the most stable species. Conclusions. The MEP appears to be a useful tool for optimizing the hunt for new species by identifying the potentially more abundant isomers of a given chemical formula.

About the detectability of glycine in the interstellar medium

Context. Glycine, the simplest of aminoacids, has been found in several carbonaceous meteorites. It remains unclear, however, wether glycine is formed in the interstellar medium (ISM) and therefore available everywhere in the Universe. For this reason, radioastronomers have searched for many years unsuccessfully to detect glycine in the ISM. Aims. We provide possible guidelines to optimize the return of these searches. Since, for most of the species observed so far in the ISM, the most abundant isomer of a given generic chemical formula is the most stable one (minimum energy principle (MEP)), we assess whether neutral glycine is the best molecule to search for or whether one of its isomers/conformers or ionic, protonated, or zwitterionic derivatives would have a higher probability of being detected. Methods. The question of the relative stability of these different species is addressed by means of quantum density functional theory (DFT) simulations within the hybrid B3LYP formalism. Each fully optimized structure is verified as a stationary point by means of a vibrational analysis. A comprehensive screening of 32 isomers/conformers of the C2H5O2N chemical formula (neutral, negative, and positive ions together with the corresponding protonated species and the possible zwitterionic structures) is carried out. In the sensitive case of the neutral compounds, more accurate relative energies were obtained by means of high level post Hartree-Fock coupled cluster calculations with large basis sets (CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ). Results. We find that neutral glycine is not the most stable isomer and, therefore, probably not the most abundant one, which might explain why it has escaped detection so far. We find instead that N-methyl carbamic acid and methyl carbamate are the two most stable isomers and, therefore, probably the two most abundant ones. Among the non-neutral forms, we found that glycine is the most stable isomer only if protonated or zwitterionic if present in interstellar ices. Conclusions. Assuming that MEP can be applied to optimize our search for glycine, our conclusion is that this search will remain extremely difficult with the present instruments and we propose searching instead for other examples among the most stable isomers.

Possible survival of simple amino acids to X-ray irradiation in ice: The case of glycine

Context. Glycine, the simplest of amino acids, has been found in several carbonaceous meteorites collected on Earth, though its presence in the interstellar medium (ISM) has never been confirmed as of today. It is now considered that its synthesis took place in the icy mantles of interstellar grains, but it remains unclear how glycine, once synthesized and trapped in interplanetary particles, survives during the transfer to the Earth. Aims. Assuming that glycine was effectively formed in the ice, we address the question of its resistance to a solar-like radiation field and look for the possible molecular remnants that would be useful tracers of its former existence. Methods. The search was conducted using an interdisciplinary approach that mixes, on the one hand, irradiations in ultra high vacuum at 30 K on the TEMPO beam line of the synchrotron SOLEIL, simultaneously with near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (NEXAFS) measurements, and on the other hand, quantum calculations to determine the energetics of the fragmentations and the relative stability of the different byproducts. The last points were addressed by means of density functional theory (DFT) simulations followed by high-level post Hartree-Fock calculations when more accurate relative energies were necessary. The constraints of an icy environment deserved special attention and the ice was modeled by a polarizable continuum medium that relies on the dielectric constant of water ice at 10–50 K. Results. Destruction of glycine is observed in the first seconds of irradiation, and carbon dioxide (CO2) and methylamine (CH3NH2) are formed. Carbon monoxide (CO), methanimine (CH2NH) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) are also produced in secondary reactions. The amino acid destruction is the same for pure glycine and glycine in ice, indicating that the OH radicals released by the water matrix is barely involved in the photolytic process; however, these radicals are involved in the production of the secondary byproducts through dehydrogenation reactions as shown by ab initio quantum chemical simulation presented in this article along with the experimental results. Conclusions. The experiments show that glycine is only partially destroyed. Its abundance is found to stay at a level of ∼30% of the initial concentration, for an irradiation dose equivalent to three years of solar radiation (at a distance of one astronomical unit). This result supports the hypothesis that, if trapped in protected icy environments and/or in the interior of interplanetary particles and meteorites, glycine may partly resist the radiation field to which it is submitted and, accordingly, survives its journey to the Earth.

Looking for homochirality in the inter-stellar medium

In this report we address the question of whether some chiral molecules have a probability of being detected in the interstellar medium (ISM). To this end we rely on the Minimum Energy Principle which states that the most abundant isomer of a given generic formula should be that of lowest energy. The relative stability of the chiral molecules with respect to the other possible species of the same chemical formula are calculated by means of quantum simulations based on density functional theory (DFT). The result is that no chiral isomer in the C3H6O (acetone), C2H5ON, C3H7ON (amide), C2H5O2N, C3H7O2N (amino acid) families is the most stable species. This is also true of the C2(H2O)2 and C3(H2O)3 species when restricted to the sugar families, but another chiral molecule of the same chemical formula, i.e. lactic acid HOCH(CH3)COOH is the most stable of all structures. Two other molecules with an NH2 group, namely, NH2CH(CH3)CN, the precursor of α-alanine and NH2CH(CH3)OH, the simplest chiral molecule, are also the most stable species in their respective families. These three molecules satisfy the conditions for being detected according to the Minimum Energy Principle. With dipoles moments of 2.3, 2.7 and 1.6 Debye respectively, they make appealing targets. The present study should encourage laboratory experiments to determine rotational constants of higher precision prior to submission of observation proposals.

TRAPPING OF NOBLE GASES BY RADIATIVE ASSOCIATION WITH IN THE PROTOSOLAR NEBULA

The heavy noble gas deficiencies observed in Titans atmosphere and in comets have been proposed to be related to a sequestration process by in the gas phase at the early protosolar nebula. Chemical thermodynamics and astrophysics modeling are favorable to this hypothesis, as presented in preceding papers. However, there is a point still to be raised, i.e., that no dynamical study of the efficiency of the collisional processes had been performed so far. Here, we show that, apart from the expected exception of Ne, the rate constants obtained, i.e., 0.7 × 10−18, 0.5 × 10−16, and 10−16 (cm3 s−1) for Ar, Kr, and Xe, respectively, are reasonably high for such processes, particularly in the case of Kr and Xe. The temperature dependence is also considered, showing a similar behavior for all noble gases with a peak efficiency in the range 50–60 K. Globally, we can conclude that the scenario of sequestration by is definitively comforted by the results of our quantum dynamical treatment. This process may also be responsible of the Ar impoverishment just measured in comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko by the ROSINA mass spectrometer on board the Rosetta spacecraft.