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Zhu C, Wang H, Medvedkov I, Marks J, Xu M, Yang J, Yang T, Pan Y, Kaiser RI. Exploitation of Synchrotron Radiation Photoionization Mass Spectrometry in the Analysis of Complex Organics in Interstellar Model Ices. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:6875-6882. [PMID: 35861849 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c01628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Unravelling the generation of complex organic molecules (COMs) on interstellar nanoparticles (grains) is essential in establishing predictive astrochemical reaction networks and recognizing evolution stages of molecular clouds and star-forming regions. The formation of COMs has been associated with the irradiation of interstellar ices by ultraviolet photons and galactic cosmic rays. Herein, we pioneer the first incorporation of synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SVUV-PI-ReTOF-MS) in laboratory astrophysics simulation experiments to afford an isomer-selective identification of key COMs (ketene (H2C═CO); acetaldehyde (CH3CHO); vinyl alcohol (H2C═CHOH)) based on photoionization efficiency (PIE) curves of molecules desorbing from exposed carbon monoxide-methane (CO-CH4) ices. Our results demonstrate that the SVUV-PI-ReTOF-MS approach represents a versatile, rapid methodology for a comprehensive identification and explicit understanding of the complex organics produced in space simulation experiments. This methodology is expected to significantly improve the predictive nature of astrochemical models of complex organic molecules formed abiotically in deep space, including biorelated species linked to the origins-of-life topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawai'i at Ma̅noa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
| | - Hailing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
| | - Iakov Medvedkov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawai'i at Ma̅noa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
| | - Joshua Marks
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawai'i at Ma̅noa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
| | - Minggao Xu
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230029, P.R. China
| | - Jiuzhong Yang
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230029, P.R. China
| | - Tao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, P.R. China
| | - Yang Pan
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230029, P.R. China
| | - Ralf I Kaiser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawai'i at Ma̅noa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
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Chandra S, Eckhardt AK, Turner AM, Tarczay G, Kaiser RI. A Photoionization Study on the Detection of 1-Sila Glycolaldehyde (HSiOCH 2 OH), 2-Sila Acetic Acid (H 3 SiCOOH), and 1,2-Disila Acetaldehyde (HSiOSiH 3 ). Chemistry 2021; 27:4939-4945. [PMID: 33368689 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202004863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The identification of silicon-substituted, complex organics carrying multiple functional groups by classical infrared spectroscopy is challenging because the group frequencies of functional groups often overlap. Photoionization (PI) reflectron time-of-fight mass spectrometry (ReTOF-MS) in combination with temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) holds certain advantages because molecules are identified after sublimation from the matrix into in the gas phase based on distinct ionization energies and sublimation temperatures. In this study, we reveal the detection of 1-silaglycolaldehyde (HSiOCH2 OH), 2-sila-acetic acid (H3 SiCOOH), and 1,2-disila-acetaldehyde (H3 SiSiHO)-the silicon analogues of the well-known glycolaldehyde (HCOCH2 OH), acetic acid (H3 CCOOH), and acetaldehyde (H3 CCHO), in the gas phase after preparation in silane (SiH4 )-carbon dioxide ices exposed to energetic electrons and subliming the neutral reaction products formed within the ices into the gas phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankhabrata Chandra
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.,W. M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | | | - Andrew M Turner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.,W. M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - György Tarczay
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.,Present address: Laboratory of Molecular Spectroscopy, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ralf I Kaiser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.,W. M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
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Turner AM, Kaiser RI. Exploiting Photoionization Reflectron Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry to Explore Molecular Mass Growth Processes to Complex Organic Molecules in Interstellar and Solar System Ice Analogs. Acc Chem Res 2020; 53:2791-2805. [PMID: 33258604 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.0c00584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
ConspectusThis Account presents recent advances in our understanding on the formation pathways of complex organic molecules (COMs) within interstellar analog ices on ice-coated interstellar nanoparticles upon interaction with ionizing radiation exploiting reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ReTOF-MS) coupled with tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) single photon ionization (PI) and resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) of the subliming molecules during the temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) phase. Laboratory simulation experiments provided compelling evidence that key classes of complex organics (aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, enols, ketones, and carboxylic acids) can be synthesized upon exposure of astrophysically relevant model ices to ionizing radiation within and throughout the ices at temperatures as low as 5 K.Molecular mass growth processes can be initiated by suprathermal or electronically excited reactants along with barrierless radical-radical recombination if both radicals hold a proper recombination geometry. Methyl (CH3), amino (NH2), hydroxyl (OH), ethyl (C2H5), vinyl (C2H3), ethynyl (C2H), formyl (HCO), hydroxycarbonyl (HOCO), hydroxymethyl (CH2OH), methoxy (CH3O), and acetyl (CH3CO) represent readily available reactants for radical-radical recombination within the ices. Reactive singlet species were found to insert without barrier into carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon single bonds (carbene) leading to an extension of the carbon chain and may add to carbon-carbon double bonds (carbene, atomic oxygen) forming cyclic reaction products. These galactic cosmic ray-triggered nonequilibrium pathways overcome previous obstacles of hypothesized thermal grain-surface processes and operate throughout the ice at 5 K. Our investigations discriminate between multiple structural isomers such as alcohols/ethers, aldehydes/enols, and cyclic/acyclic carbonyls. These data provide quantitative, isomer selective input parameters for a cosmic ray-dictated formation of complex organics in interstellar ices and are fully able to replicate the astronomical observations of complex organics over typical lifetimes of molecular clouds of a few 106 to 107 years. Overall, PI-ReTOF-MS revealed that the processing of astrophysically relevant ices can lead to multifaceted mixtures of organics reaching molecular weights of up to 200 amu. Further advances in laboratory techniques beyond the FTIR-QMS limit are clearly desired not only to confidently assign detection in laboratory ice analog experiments of increasingly more complex molecules of interest but also from the viewpoint of future astronomical searches in the age of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Turner
- Department of Chemistry and W.M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
| | - Ralf I. Kaiser
- Department of Chemistry and W.M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
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An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation into the Formation of Ketene (H2CCO) and Ethynol (HCCOH) in Interstellar Analog Ices. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ab8dbc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Abplanalp MJ, Kaiser RI. On the formation of complex organic molecules in the interstellar medium: untangling the chemical complexity of carbon monoxide-hydrocarbon containing ice analogues exposed to ionizing radiation via a combined infrared and reflectron time-of-flight analysis. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:16949-16980. [PMID: 31339133 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp01793c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recently, over 200 molecules have been detected in the interstellar medium (ISM), with about one third being complex organic molecules (COMs), molecules containing six or more atoms. Over the last few decades, astrophysical laboratory experiments have shown that several COMs are formed via interaction of ionizing radiation within ices deposited on interstellar dust particles at 10 K (H2O, CH3OH, CO, CO2, CH4, NH3). However, there is still a lack of understanding of the chemical complexity that is available through individual ice constituents. The present research investigates experimentally the synthesis of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen bearing COMs from interstellar ice analogues containing carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), ethylene (C2H4), or acetylene (C2H2) exposed to ionizing radiation. Utilizing online and in situ techniques, such as infrared spectroscopy and tunable photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PI-ReTOF-MS), specific isomers produced could be characterized. A total of 12 chemically different groups were detected corresponding to C2HnO (n = 2, 4, 6), C3HnO (n = 2, 4, 6, 8), C4HnO (n = 4, 6, 8, 10), C5HnO (n = 4, 6, 8, 10), C6HnO (n = 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14), C2HnO2 (n = 2, 4), C3HnO2 (n = 4, 6, 8), C4HnO2 (n = 4, 6, 8, 10), C5HnO2 (n = 6, 8), C6HnO2 (n = 8, 10, 12), C4HnO3 (n = 4, 6, 8), and C5HnO3 (n = 6, 8). More than half of these isomer specifically identified molecules have been identified in the ISM, and the remaining COMs detected here can be utilized to guide future astronomical observations. Of these isomers, three groups - alcohols, aldehydes, and molecules containing two of these functional groups - displayed varying degrees of unsaturation. Also, the detection of 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanal, and 2-methyl-propanal has significant implications as the propyl and isopropyl moieties (C3H7), which have already been detected in the ISM via propyl cyanide and isopropyl cyanide, could be detected in our laboratory studies. General reaction mechanisms for their formation are also proposed, with distinct follow-up studies being imperative to elucidate the complexity of COMs synthesized in these ices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Abplanalp
- W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. and Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Ralf I Kaiser
- W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. and Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
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Turner AM, Abplanalp MJ, Bergantini A, Frigge R, Zhu C, Sun BJ, Hsiao CT, Chang AHH, Meinert C, Kaiser RI. Origin of alkylphosphonic acids in the interstellar medium. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaaw4307. [PMID: 31457085 PMCID: PMC6685711 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw4307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
For decades, the source of phosphorus incorporated into Earth's first organisms has remained a fundamental, unsolved puzzle. Although contemporary biomolecules incorporate P(+V) in their phosphate moieties, the limited bioavailability of phosphates led to the proposal that more soluble P(+III) compounds served as the initial source of phosphorus. Here, we report via laboratory simulation experiments that the three simplest alkylphosphonic acids, soluble organic phosphorus P(+III) compounds, can be efficiently generated in interstellar, phosphine-doped ices through interaction with galactic cosmic rays. This discovery opens a previously overlooked avenue into the formation of key molecules of astrobiological significance and untangles basic mechanisms of a facile synthesis of phosphorus-containing organics in extraterrestrial ices, which can be incorporated into comets and asteroids before their delivery and detection on Earth such as in the Murchison meteorite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Turner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Matthew J. Abplanalp
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Alexandre Bergantini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Robert Frigge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Cheng Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Bing-Jian Sun
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Ta Hsiao
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Agnes H. H. Chang
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Cornelia Meinert
- Université Côte d’Azur, Institut de Chimie de Nice, UMR 7272 CNRS, 06108 Nice, France
| | - Ralf I. Kaiser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
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Fioroni M, Savage RE, DeYonker NJ. On the formation of phosphorous polycyclic aromatics hydrocarbons (PAPHs) in astrophysical environments. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:8015-8021. [PMID: 30931458 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp00547a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The formation of phosphorous-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAPHs) in astrophysical contexts is proposed and analyzed by means of computational methods [B3LYP-D3BJ/ma-def2-TZVPP, MP2-F12, CCSD-F12b and CCSD(T)-F12b levels of theory]. A "bottom-up" approach based on a radical-neutral reaction scheme between acetylene (C2H2) and the CP radical was used investigating: (a) the synthesis of the first PAPH (C5H5P) "phosphinine"; (b) PAPH growth by addition of C2H2 to the C5H4P radical; (c) PAPH synthesis by addition reactions of one CP radical and nC2H2 to a neutral PAH. Results show: (I) the formation of the phosphinine radical has a strong thermodynamic tendency (-133.3 kcal mol-1) and kinetic barriers ≤5.4 kcal mol-1; (II) PAPH growth by nC2H2 addition on the radical phosphinine easily and exothermically produces radicals (1a- or 1-phospha-naphtalenes with kinetic barriers ≤7.1 kcal mol-1 and reaction free energies ≤-102.5 kcal mol-1); (III) the addition of a single CP + nC2H2 to a neutral benzene generates a complex chemistry where the main product is 2-phospha-naphtalene; (IV) because of the CP radical character, its barrierless addition to a PAH produces a resonant stabilized PAPH, becoming excellent candidates for addition reactions with neutral or radical hydrocarbons and PAHs; (V) the same energy trend between all four levels of theory continues a well-calibrated computational protocol to analyze complex organic reactions with astrochemical interest using electronic structure theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Fioroni
- 213 Smith Chemistry Building, The University of Memphis, Memphis, 38152, TN, USA.
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Abstract
Phosphorus is a minor element that controls the formation of several key planetary minerals. It is also an element critical to the development of life. A common assumption of phosphorus chemistry is that at low temperatures, phosphorus would have been a volatile component of ices or gases in the outer Solar System. Here I propose that phosphorus was depleted as a volatile throughout the developing solar system, and as a result, volatile forms of phosphorus would have been minimal, even in the cold regions of the solar nebula. Based on thermodynamic equilibrium models and metal phosphidation kinetics coupled to a simple 1D gas diffusion model, phosphorus migrated rapidly to the inner Solar System, forming solids such as phosphides and phosphates, and removing volatile phosphorus across large portions of the Solar System.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Pasek
- School of Geosciences University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave NES 204 Tampa FL USA 33620
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Turner AM, Bergantini A, Abplanalp MJ, Zhu C, Góbi S, Sun BJ, Chao KH, Chang AHH, Meinert C, Kaiser RI. An interstellar synthesis of phosphorus oxoacids. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3851. [PMID: 30242164 PMCID: PMC6155066 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06415-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorus signifies an essential element in molecular biology, yet given the limited solubility of phosphates on early Earth, alternative sources like meteoritic phosphides have been proposed to incorporate phosphorus into biomolecules under prebiotic terrestrial conditions. Here, we report on a previously overlooked source of prebiotic phosphorus from interstellar phosphine (PH3) that produces key phosphorus oxoacids-phosphoric acid (H3PO4), phosphonic acid (H3PO3), and pyrophosphoric acid (H4P2O7)-in interstellar analog ices exposed to ionizing radiation at temperatures as low as 5 K. Since the processed material of molecular clouds eventually enters circumstellar disks and is partially incorporated into planetesimals like proto Earth, an understanding of the facile synthesis of oxoacids is essential to untangle the origin of water-soluble prebiotic phosphorus compounds and how they might have been incorporated into organisms not only on Earth, but potentially in our universe as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Turner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Alexandre Bergantini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Matthew J Abplanalp
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Cheng Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Sándor Góbi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Bing-Jian Sun
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, 974, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Kang-Heng Chao
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, 974, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Agnes H H Chang
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, 974, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Cornelia Meinert
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut de Chimie de Nice, Nice, France
| | - Ralf I Kaiser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
- W.M. Keck Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
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