E-cyanomethanimine was detected in Sgr B2 (N) by Hollis et al. (2011) and confirmed by Zalaski et al. (2013). The molecule, as well its isomers, Z- and N-cyanomethanimine, are considered as prebiotic molecules since they can easily form biological molecules such as amino acids. Here we present recent chemical modeling of these prebiotic molecules using kinetic rate equations. We have built several models, including cold, warm-up, and shock models, to simulate the complex physical environment of Sgr B2 and its hot core Sgr B2(N). We compare the calculated fractional abundances with the observed value and identify the major formation and destruction reactions of these prebiotic molecules. We also demonstrate the physical conditions which are best for cyanomethanimine isomer formation.

Chemical modeling studies of interstellar cyanomethanimine isomers

255th National Meeting (2018)

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