A team of chemists has managed to synthesize a ‘super alcohol’ called Methanetetrol (or also orthocarbonic acid), a molecule long considered too unstable to exist. This discovery opens up unique perspectives on chemical reactions that can lead to vie.
Methanetetrol is distinguished by its unique structure, with four oxygen-hydrogen groups around a single atom of carbone. According to the researchers, this molecule could play a key role in the chemistry prebiotic, serving as a elementary brick for life in theUniverse. The work was published in Nature Communicationsmarking a significant advance in our understanding of extraterrestrial chemical processes.
Credit: Andrew Turner
To recreate the extreme conditions of space, scientists used a cryocooler at temperatures around -268 degrees Celsius. They then exposed a mixture of water and carbon dioxide to one influence similar to cosmic rays. This experience made it possible to observe the formation of Methanetetrol in small quantities, thus confirming its stability in space environments.
The detection of Methanetetrol was carried out thanks to the use of ultraviolet light, revealing its presence in gaseous form. This innovative method could be applied in search of similar molecules in space.
The implications of this discovery are vast. Methanetetrol, by decomposing, can generate compounds essential to life, such as water and hydrogen peroxide. This property makes it a candidate ideal To study the chemical mechanisms at the origin of life, not only on Terre But also on other planets.
Researchers now plan to study how Methanetetrol interacts with other molecules in interstellar dust clouds. These environments, where stars and planets are formed, could house the chemical reactions leading to life.
What is an acid ortho and why is it important for life?
Ortho acids are a class of chemical compounds characterized by the presence of several hydroxyl (-oh) groups attached to the same carbon atom. These molecules are particularly unstable, which makes them difficult to study in the laboratory.
Their instability is due to the strong repulsion between the hydroxyl groups, which tend to separate to form more stable molecules. Despite this, acidic ortho are considered key intermediaries in prebiotic reactions, which can lead to the formation of complex organic molecules.
In the case of Methanetetrol, its unique structure makes it an ideal candidate to study the first stages of life chemistry. Its ability to generate essential compounds such as water and hydrogen peroxide by in fact decomposing a key element in the search for the origins of life.
This discovery opens the way to new research on the conditions necessary for the appearance of life, not only on earth but also in other parts of the universe.
