Aliphatics are prevalent in various solar system bodies and the interstellar medium, with linear alkanes (n-CnH2n+2) detected in carbonaceous chondrites in small amounts. Despite their consistent presence, their formation mechanism in meteorites remains unclear. This study proposes a gas-phase synthesis mechanism for n-alkanes from carbon and hydrogen under conditions similar to carbon-rich circumstellar environments. Using advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, the researchers identified n-alkanes (n-C8H18 to n-C32H66) within carbon nanostructures. Ab-initio calculations support a methyl-methylene addition (MMA) mechanism for alkane growth, potentially explaining their presence in interstellar dust and meteorites.
You can find the work published in:
n-Alkanes formed by methyl-methylene addition as a source of meteoritic aliphatics, P. Merino, L. Martínez, G. Santoro, J. I. Martínez, K. Lauwaet, M. Accolla, N. Ruiz del Árbol, C. Sánchez-Sánchez, A. Martín-Jiménez, R. Otero, M. Piantek, D. Serrate, R. Lebrón-Auilar, J. E. Quintanilla-López, J. Méndez, P. L. De Andrés, J. A. Martín-Gago, Commun. Chem., 7 (2024) 165. Link