Carbynes in meteorites - Detection, low-temperature origin, and implications for interstellar molecules

Abstract

The presence, origin and implications of carbynes in meteorites are investigated. A sample of the Allende meteorite was pyrolyzed at temperatures from 25 to 750 C and examined by solid probe time-of-flight mass spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Fragments released upon heating at 250 to 330 C are found to be composed of macromolecules containing triply bonded carbon units and cyanoacetylenes, as well as some methyl- and phenylacetylenes. Although carbynes are well known to form from the condensation of carbon vapors above 2600 K or by shock greater than 600 kbar, which would be unlikely in Allende, it is found that carbynes rather than graphite are formed metastably by the disproportionation of CO at low temperatures when chromite is present as a catalyst. Results imply that metastable formation mechanisms may be the principal source of interstellar polycyanoacetylenes and meteoritic and terrestrial carbynes.