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The Infrared Spectrum of Matrix Isolated Aminoacetonitrile: A Precursor to the Amino Acid GlycineWe present infrared (IR) spectral data from matrix isolation experiments and density functional theory calculations on the pre-biologically interesting molecule aminoacetonitrile, a precursor to glycine. We find that this nitrile has an unusually weak nitrile (C=N) stretch in the infrared, in contrast to expectations based on measurements and models of other nitriles under astrophysical conditions. The absence of an observable nitrile absorption feature in the infrared will make the IR search for this molecule considerably more difficult, and will raise estimates of upper limits on nitriles in interstellar and outer Solar System ices. This is also of relevance to assessing the formation routes of the amino acid glycine, since aminoacetonitrile is the putative precursor to glycine via the Strecker synthesis, the mechanism postulated to have produced the amino acids in meteorites.
Document ID
20030064144
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Bernstein, Max P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Sandford, Scott A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC2-1178
OTHER: 344-37-00-07
OTHER: 344-30-21-01
OTHER: 344-00-00
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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