CH₃NCO detections in observations and the laboratory

Abstract

Methyl isocyanate (CH3NCO) belongs to a select group of peptide-like prebiotic molecules. In this paper we present its first detection toward the solar type low-mass protostar IRAS16293-2422 (hereafter IRAS16293). CH3NCO is detected towards IRAS16293 as a warm component with Tex > 100 K and HNCO/CH3NCO ∼4-12. Also, its grain surface formation route is investigated in the laboratory. VUV processing of CH4:HNCO mixtures, investigated by IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, revealed that it can be formed by …