Interstellar Enols Are Formed in Plasma Discharges of Alcohols

Abstract

Laboratory low-pressure cold plasma discharges, which are used to simulate some hot core environments in the star-forming region, have been investigated by employing single-photon vacuum ultraviolet ( VUV) photoionization mass spectrometry. Enols with two to four carbon atoms were detected in plasma discharges of alcohols, indicating that enols can result from alcohol destruction induced by ultraviolet and cosmic radiation and accelerated electrons that are abundant in the interstellar medium. This observation, together with the detection of ethenol toward Sgr B2, suggests that larger enols, such as propenols and butenols, should be in the search list of potential molecular species to be identified in interstellar space. The laboratory experiment presented here shows that VUV photoionization sampling of plasma discharges is a valuable method for guiding the search for new interstellar molecules and helping to understand the transformation mechanism of molecular species of astrochemical significance.

Thermal cracking of triacylglycerols: Molecular beam studies

“…We previously used this approach to study 90 product chemistry following corona discharges on alkylbenzenes[31;32]. A synchrotron based 91 group also has reported similar electrical dischargeproduct chemistry studies [33][34][35][36]. 92…”

Effect of the pressure on the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds over Ag/Al2O3 catalyst

“…Qi et al [14,15] found that enols with two to four carbon atoms were in propanols and butanols fueled flames. Also, it is very interesting that enols can also be formed from plasma discharges of alcohols [16]. Under normal pressure, He et al [9][10][11][12] observed the formation of the enolic species during the partial oxidation of alcohols on Ag/Al 2 catalyst.…”

“…More recently, enols with two to four carbon atoms have been found in propanols and butanols fueled low-pressure flames [14,15]. It is very interesting to note that enols can be formed from low-pressure plasma discharges of alcohols as well [16]. In addition, Ferguson et al [17] reported that elevated pressure could accelerate the oxidation reactions showing that the effect of pressure was important for the investigation of the reaction products.…”

Post Discharge Chemistry of Aromatic Molecules in Rare Gas

“…Molecular beam procedures and detection capabilities that have been already well employed in flame/pyrolysis product analysis [19][20][21][22] can be similarly applied in experiments involving discharges. There is now the beginning of similar applications pertaining to plasma chemistry [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30].…”