Abstract
Extraterrestrial organic matter has been widely studied; however, its response to pressure has not. Primitive organic matter bearing meteorites, such as CI and CM carbonaceous chondrites, have experienced variable pressures, up to 10 GPa. To appreciate the effects of these pressures on the organic content of these bodies, the model compounds isophthalic acid, vanillin, and vanillic acid were subjected to pressures of up to 11.5 GPa and subsequently decompressed. High-resolution synchrotron source Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the effects of different benzene substituents at high pressure on both the vibrational assignments of the benzene core of the molecules and the ability of the aromatic compounds to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The presence of additional peaks at high pressure was found to coincide with molecules that contain carboxyl groups; these features are interpreted as C–H···O intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The formation of these hydrogen bonds has implications for the origination of macromolecular organic matter (MOM), owing to the importance of such attractive forces during episodes of cross-linking, such as esterification. Pressure-induced hydrogen-bond formation is a process by which aromatic MOM precursors could have cross-linked to generate the organic polymers found within extraterrestrial bodies today.
Highlights
Carbonaceous chondrites are a primordial class of meteorites, which formed shortly after the formation of the solar system,
The error in the pressure calculation relating to the precision of the spectrometer unit was less than 0.01 GPa, and the uncertainty of the pressure in the diamond anvil cell (DAC) resulting from non-hydrostatic conditions was estimated to be ±0.1 GPa.[30]
Synchrotron Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data reveal that the lower wavenumber regions of the three benzene derivatives are significantly different
Summary
Carbonaceous chondrites are a primordial class of meteorites, which formed shortly after the formation of the solar system, 3 wt % in some cases), which was incorporated in their asteroid parent bodies. Carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies have experienced a range of pressures. The Murchison meteorite (CM2) is an aggregate of grains that has experienced both lower (
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.