Discovery of the interstellar chiral molecule propylene oxide (CH₃CHCH₂O).

Authors :: McGuire BA
Carroll PB
Loomis RA
Finneran IA
Jewell PR
Remijan AJ
Blake GA
Source :: Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] 2016 Jun 17; Vol. 352 (6292), pp. 1449-52. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Jun 14.
Publication Year :: 2016
Abstract: Life on Earth relies on chiral molecules-that is, species not superimposable on their mirror images. This manifests itself in the selection of a single molecular handedness, or homochirality, across the biosphere. We present the astronomical detection of a chiral molecule, propylene oxide (CH3CHCH2O), in absorption toward the Galactic center. Propylene oxide is detected in the gas phase in a cold, extended molecular shell around the embedded, massive protostellar clusters in the Sagittarius B2 star-forming region. This material is representative of the earliest stage of solar system evolution in which a chiral molecule has been found.<br /> (Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.)