Bibcode
Ursini, Ornella; Angelini, Giancarlo; Cataldo, Franco; Iglesias-Groth, Susana
Bibliographical reference
Astrobiology, Volume 19, Issue 7, pp.903-914
Advertised on:
7
2019
Journal
Citations
3
Refereed citations
3
Description
The γ-radiolysis of fullerenes (C60 and C70)
was performed to investigate the role of fullerenes as a carbon source
in building organic molecules in astrophysical ice analog media. Mass
spectrometric analyses and the sequential collision-induced dissociation
processes enabled us to determine the plausible chemical structure of
new products originated during γ-irradiation of fullerenes. The
radiolytic products are grouped into six principal compound families. We
assessed the relative yield, as percentage, for each new radiolytic
compound, and designed the reaction schemes that lead to
γ-irradiation products. The reactions start with the formation of
primary radicals due to the radiolysis of solvents that react with the
fullerenes' structures, forming fullerene radical adducts. The fate of
these fullerene radical adducts depends on two factors: (i) the nature
of radicals formed by irradiation of solvents and consequently by their
ability to give secondary reactions, (ii) whether the onset of
thermalization energy processes occurs or does not occur. Here, we
present the results regarding the fragmentation processes that lead to
functionalized carbonaceous chains characterized by lower molecular
weight. We identify the chemical nature of functionalized chain
products, propose the reaction schemes, and quantify their relative
yields.