Termination of bottom-up interstellar aromatic ring formation at C6H5+

TL;DR

This study experimentally investigates the proposed formation pathway of interstellar benzene, revealing that the process terminates prematurely at C6H5+ and does not produce benzene, challenging existing models of PAH formation in space.

Contribution

First experimental study of ion-molecule reactions starting from protonated acetylene, showing the formation halts at C6H5+ instead of benzene, thus disproving previous formation mechanisms.

Findings

Reaction terminates at C6H5+ instead of benzene

C6H5+ is unreactive toward acetylene and hydrogen

Disproves previous benzene formation models in space

Abstract

The aromatic molecule benzene is considered the essential building block for larger polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in space. Despite benzene's importance in the formation of PAHs, the formation mechanisms of interstellar benzene are not well understood. A single ion-molecule reaction sequence is considered when modeling the formation of benzene in the interstellar medium, beginning with the protonation of acetylene. Although this process has been used to model the initial steps for formation of PAHs, it has not been experimentally measured. To explore this reaction mechanism, we have carried out the first experimental study of sequential ion-molecule reactions beginning with protonation of acetylene at single-collision conditions. Surprisingly, we find that the reaction sequence does not result in benzene and instead terminates at C6H5+, which is unreactive toward both acetylene and hydrogen. This result disproves the previously proposed mechanism for interstellar benzene formation, critically altering our understanding of interstellar PAH formation.