Biological entities, such as DNA bases or proteins, possess numerous tautomers and isomers that lie close in energy, making the experimental characterization of a unique tautomer challenging. We apply VUV synchrotron-based experiments combined with state-of-the-art ab initio methodology to determine the adiabatic ionization energies (AIEs) of specific gas-phase cytosine tautomers produced in a molecular beam. The structures and energetics of neutral and cationic cytosine tautomers were determined using explicitly correlated methods. The experimental spectra correspond to well-resolved bands that are attributable to the specific contributions of five neutral tautomers of cytosine prior to ionization. Their AIEs are experimentally determined for the first time with an accuracy of 0.003 eV. This study also serves as an important showcase for other biological entities presenting a dense pattern of isomeric and tautomeric forms in their spectra that can be investigated to understand the charge redistribution in these species upon ionization.

In an effort to provide an accurate structural and spectroscopic characterization of acetyl cyanide, its two enolic isomers and the corresponding cationic species, state-of-the-art computational methods, and approaches have been employed. The coupled-cluster theory including single and double excitations together with a perturbative treatment of triples has been used as starting point in composite schemes accounting for extrapolation to the complete basis-set limit as well as core-valence correlation effects to determine highly accurate molecular structures, fundamental vibrational frequencies, and rotational parameters. The available experimental data for acetyl cyanide allowed us to assess the reliability of our computations: structural, energetic, and spectroscopic properties have been obtained with an overall accuracy of about, or better than, 0.001 Å, 2 kcal/mol, 1-10 MHz, and 11 cm(-1) for bond distances, adiabatic ionization potentials, rotational constants, and fundamental vibrational frequencies, respectively. We are therefore confident that the highly accurate spectroscopic data provided herein can be useful for guiding future experimental investigations and/or astronomical observations.

The present combined theoretical and experimental investigation concerns the single photoionization of gas-phase acetyl cyanide and the fragmentation pathways of the resulting cation. Acetyl cyanide (AC) is inspired from both the chemistry of cyanoacetylene and the Strecker reaction which are thought to be at the origin of medium sized prebiotic molecules in the interstellar medium. AC can be formed by reaction from cyanoacetylene and water but also from acetaldehyde and HCN or the corresponding radicals. In view of the interpretation of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) experimental data obtained using synchrotron radiation, we explored the ground potential energy surface (PES) of acetyl cyanide and of its cation using standard and recently implemented explicitly correlated methodologies. Our PES covers the regions of tautomerism (between keto and enol forms) and of the lowest fragmentation channels. This allowed us to deduce accurate thermochemical data for this astrobiologically relevant molecule. Unimolecular decomposition of the AC cation turns out to be very complex. The implications for the evolution of prebiotic molecules under VUV irradiation are discussed.

International audienceAminoacetonitrile (AAN) is a key compound in astrochemistry and astrobiology. We present a combined theoretical and experimental investigation concerning the single photoionization of gas-phase AAN and the fragmentation pathways of the resulting cation. At present, we measured photoelectron photoion coincidence (PEPICO) spectra in the 9.8–13.6 eV energy regime using synchrotron radiation as exciting light source. In order to interpret the VUV experimental data obtained, we explored the ground potential energy surface (PES) of AAN and of its cation using standard and explicitly correlated quantum chemical methodologies. This allowed us to deduce accurate thermochemical data for this molecule. We also determined, for the first time, the adiabatic ionization energy of AAN to lie at AIE = (10.085 ± 0.03) eV. The unimolecular decomposition pathways of the resulting AAN+ parent cation are also investigated. The appearance energies of five fragments are determined for the first time, with 30 meV accuracy. Interestingly, our work shows the possibility of the formation of both HCN and HNC isomeric forms. The implications for the evolution of prebiotic molecules under VUV irradiation are briefly discussed