Cyanopolyyne

Cyanopolyyne

A cyanopolyyne is an organic compound that contains a chain of one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds alternating with single bonds and ending with a cyanide functional group. The simplest example is cyanoacetylene, H−C≡C−C≡N.

Cyanopolyynes are relatively common in interstellar clouds, where they were first detected around 1970. Members up to HC9N were detected in the Taurus Molecular Cloud 1, where they are believed to be formed by reaction of atomic nitrogen with hydrocarbons.[1] For a while, HC11N held the record as the largest molecule detected in interstellar space, but its identification was challenged.[2][3]

Cyanoacetylene is one of the molecules that was produced in the Miller-Urey experiment.

References

  1. ^ A. Freeman and T. J. Millar (1983), Formation of complex molecules in TMC-1. Nature, volume 301, 402-404 doi:10.1038/301402a0
  2. ^ M. J. Travers, M. C. McCarthy, P. Kalmus, C. A. Gottlieb, AND P. Thaddeus (1996), Laboratory Detection of the Linear Cyanopolyyne HC11N. The Astrophysical Journal, volume 469, pages L65–L68
  3. ^ Travers, M. J.; McCarthy, M. C.; Kalmus, P.; Gottlieb, C. A.; Thaddeus, P. (1996) Laboratory Detection of the Cyanopolyyne HC 13N. Astrophysical Journal Letters v.472, p.L61 doi:10.1086/310359

See also


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