<p>In the present study, we have shown for the first time
how glycine can be synthesized under prebiotic-like conditions using an
Infra-Red laser to trigger the reaction. In particular, we observed that in the
low-density conditions it can be obtained from simple ion-molecule reactions of
acetic acid and protonated hydroxylamine. This reaction, studied years ago in
more dense conditions [<i>J. Am. Chem. Soc.</i> <b>2007</b>, <i>129</i>, 9910-9917R], was the center of a controversy, since accurate
quantum chemistry calculations have shown that it is not barrierless [<i>Astrophys. J.</i> <b>2012</b>, <i>748</i>, 99] such that
a source of energy is needed. In space, and more in general in prebiotic
conditions (interstellar medium, comets, asteroids) temperature is very low but
the photon density can be important. Here we propose a way of synthesizing such
complex organic molecule in a very low-pressure environment (about 10<sup>-3</sup>
mbar). This way of forming complex
organic molecule is of relevance also beyond the prebiotic interest of finding
a scenario which was at the origin of the synthesis of such molecules. In fact our
work proposes a new way of assisting reactions using IR radiation. Only few
cases were found in which IR can trigger complex reactions (i.e. not simple
dissociations) while there is a clear interest of using such low-energy
radiation. This study will be at the basis of new researches devoted to find
other reactions which can be assisted by IR laser.</p>
UNIFIED MICROSCOPIC–MACROSCOPIC MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS OF COMPLEX ORGANIC MOLECULE CHEMISTRY IN COLD CORES
