Single radical activated chemistry on cold surfaces: an experimental and theoretical study of glycolaldehyde formation

ABSTRACT In this work, we investigate the possibility of forming interstellar complex organic molecules through reactions involving a single radical and a closed-shell molecule on interstellar ices, using both experimental and theoretical approaches. Specifically, we studied the case of the reaction between formyl radical (HCO$^{.}$) and formaldehyde (H$_2$CO). By means of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, quadrupole mass spectrometry, and matrix-isolation techniques, we demonstrate that HCO$^{.}$ reacts with H$_2$CO in the solid state to form glycolaldehyde (HOCH$_2$CHO) at temperatures between 35 and 40 K, during the evaporation of the Ar matrix. Quantum chemical calculations simulating the experimental conditions were carried out to identify possible reaction pathways. As previous theoretical studies, we found that the reaction HCO$^{.}$ + H$_2$CO possesses a relatively large activation barrier ($\sim$15 kJ mol−1), which is likely overcome in the experiment because of the energy provided by the sublimation of the matrix. We discuss how the results of this study can be transposed to the interstellar conditions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Published
2026-04-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stag752
Primary Topic
Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Single radical activated chemistry on cold surfaces: an experimental and theoretical study of glycolaldehyde formation

Y Layssac, J Vitorino, A Gutiérrez-Quintanilla, T Chiavassa et al.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
article

Single radical activated chemistry on cold surfaces: an experimental and theoretical study of glycolaldehyde formation

Y Layssac, J Vitorino, A Gutiérrez-Quintanilla, T Chiavassa, F Dulieu, F Duvernay, J Enrique-Romero, C Ceccarelli, B Husquinet
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this work, we investigate the possibility of forming interstellar complex organic molecules through reactions involving a single radical and a closed-shell molecule on interstellar ices, using both experimental and theoretical approaches. Specifically, we studied the case of the reaction between formyl radical (HCO$^{.}$) and formaldehyde (H$_2$CO). By means of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, quadrupole mass spectrometry, and matrix-isolation techniques, we demonstrate that HCO$^{.}$ reacts with H$_2$CO in the solid state to form glycolaldehyde (HOCH$_2$CHO) at temperatures between 35 and 40 K, during the evaporation of the Ar matrix. Quantum chemical calculations simulating the experimental conditions were carried out to identify possible reaction pathways. As previous theoretical studies, we found that the reaction HCO$^{.}$ + H$_2$CO possesses a relatively large activation barrier ($\sim$15 kJ mol−1), which is likely overcome in the experiment because of the energy provided by the sublimation of the matrix. We discuss how the results of this study can be transposed to the interstellar conditions.

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical SocietyVol. 548(4)
Leiden University (NL), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (FR), Université Paris Cité (FR), Aix-Marseille Université (FR), Sorbonne Université (FR), Sorbonne Paris Cité (FR), Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (DE), Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (FR), CY Cergy Paris Université (FR), Centrale Méditerranée (FR), University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (US), Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
Centre national d'études spatiales, U.S. Department of Commerce, California Earthquake Authority, Cancer Care Ontario, Instituto Nacional de Pediatria, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, California State University, Chico, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, College of Natural Resources and Sciences, Humboldt State University, H2020 European Research Council, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
Openalex Percentile: Top 11%
Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
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