1. METHANIMINE AT HIGH SPATIAL RESOLUTION IN SGR B2: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF CYANOMETHANIMINE Amanda Steber 1, Joanna F. Corby 2, Nathan A. Seifert 1, Cristobal Perez 1, Anthony Remijan 3, Brooks H. Pate 1 1 Department of Chemistry, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904 2 Department of Astronomy, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904 3 AL MA, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA 22904

2. Previous Results Discharge of NH 3 and CH 3 CN Cyanomethanimine was discovered in the ISM using the broadband reaction screening process Three isomers of cyanomethanimine – Z- isomer:  a =1.35(10)D &  b =0.4(5)D – E- isomer:  a =3.25(2)D &  b =2.51(2)D – N- isomer:  a =4.6D &  b = ~1.5D D.P. Zaleski et al. Ap. J. Lett., 2013, 765, L10 E = 2653 cm -1 E = 39 cm -1 E = 0 cm -1

3. I. W. M. Smith, D. Talbi, E. Herbst. Astron. Astrophys., 2001, 369, 611. Direct HCN Dimerization Protonation M. Yim, J. Choe. Chem. Phys. Lett., 2012, 538, 24. 314 kJ/mol -327 kJ/mol 483 kJ/mol Discharge Reaction

4. CN addition The Kaiser group (among others) has focused on the formation of cyanides through the reaction of CN with olefins – Crossed molecular beam experiments – Methylacetylene, allene, ethylene, dimethylacetylene, etc… The radical attacks the  electron density of the hydrocarbon They have been able to determine that the neutral – radical reaction occurs with out an activation barrier N. Balucani et al. Astrophys. J., 2000, 545, 892.

6. Could This Work for Cyanomethanimine? X = N X = E (X)-cyanomethanimine X = Z E = 0 cm -1 E = 39 cm -1 E = 2653 cm -1

7. Laboratory vs GBT

8. R. A. Gaume et al. Astrophys. J., 1995, 449, 663.

9. Pink – Methanimine (absorption) Green –  CH 2 CN (absorption)

10. Pink – Methanimine Green –  CH 2 CN Blue– E-cyanomethanimine (absorption)

11. GBT PRIMOS Data J. M. Hollis, A. J. Remijan, P. R. Jewell, F. J. Lovas, J. F. Corby, GBT PRIMOS, http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~aremijan/PRIMOS/.http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~aremijan/PRIMOS/

12. Blue – Methanimine 35 GHz (Emission) Pink – Methanimine 33 GHz (Absorption) Dashed contour – Absorption Solid contour - Emission 2 hour observation with 1 hour on source

15. Conclusions Previously proposed reaction mechanisms for the formation of cyanomethanimine in the interstellar medium are not very feasible The addition of CN to methanimine would yield cyanomethanimine + H through a barrierless reaction The high resolution spatial maps show that this could be happening as all three species reside in the same spatial locations The complex chemistry is suggested to be occurring outside of the hotcore (LMH)

16. Acknowledgements Pate Lab NRAO NSF – Centers for Chemical Innovation Award Number 0847919 – Chemistry Award Number 1213200