Hydrogenation of interstellar molecules: a survey for methylenimine (CH2NH).
Methylenimine (CH2NH) has been convincingly detected for the first time outside the Galactic center as part of a study of the hydrogenation of interstellar molecules. We have observed transitions from energy levels up to about 100 K above the ground state in the giant molecular clouds W51, Orion KL and G34.3 + 0.15. In addition, CH2NH was found at the " radical-ion peak" on the quiescent ridge of material in the Orion molecular cloud. The abundance ratio CH2NH/HCN at the radical-ion peak agrees with the predictions of recent gas-phase chemical models. This ratio is an order of magnitude higher in the warmer cloud cores, suggesting additional production pathways for CH2NH, probably on interstellar grains.
Dickens
J E
JE
Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, USA. dickens@fcrao1.phast.umass.edu
Irvine
W M
WM
DeVries
C H
CH
Ohishi
M
M
D055580:Astronomical Phenomena; D001256:Astronomy; D019443:Cosmic Dust; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis*; D006865:Hydrogenation; D007097:Imines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
D019443:Cosmic Dust; D005740:Gases; D007097:Imines; C024664:methyleneimine