NH₂CH₂OH THERMAL FORMATION IN INTERSTELLAR ICES CONTRIBUTION TO THE 5-8 μm REGION TOWARD EMBEDDED PROTOSTARS

Abstract

Aminomethanol (NH2CH2OH) is formed at low temperature from the purely thermal reaction of NH3 and H2CO in laboratory interstellar ice analogs. We report for the first time its infrared and mass spectra. We study its reaction and desorption kinetics using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Its reaction rate is estimated to be k(T) = 0.05 × exp(−4.5(kJ mol-1)/RT) and its desorption energy to be Edes = 58 ± 2 kJ mol−1. NH2CH2OH can also contribute to the 5–8 μm region of thermally processed ices encountered in many young stellar objects. Gas phase NH2CH2OH may be present in hot core regions, when the frozen material is desorbed.