Tentative Detection of the Glycine Isomer Glycolamide in Hot Molecular Core

TL;DR

This study reports the tentative detection of glycolamide, a glycine isomer, in a hot molecular core, indicating amides can survive and evolve during star formation, linking interstellar chemistry to prebiotic molecules.

Contribution

First detection of glycolamide in a hot core, showing amides persist and evolve during star formation, supporting chemical continuity from interstellar to protostellar environments.

Findings

Glycolamide detected with abundance of (1.7±0.2)×10^{-10} relative to H2.

Comparable formamide/glycolamide and acetamide/glycolamide ratios in different sources.

Amides can survive and evolve during massive star formation.

Abstract

Understanding whether prebiotic molecules can endure and reform through the energetic stages of star formation is essential for tracing the continuity of interstellar chemistry toward life. Glycolamide, an isomer of glycine, was recently detected in the molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027. However, establishing its presence in warm, high-density environments is crucial to evaluate the chemical continuity of amides. Here we report the tentative detection of glycolamide in a hot molecular core, G358.93-0.03 MM1, using ALMA 1 mm observations. Seven unblended or only mildly blended emission lines were identified, yielding an abundance of (1.7$\pm$0.2)$\times 10^{-10}$ relative to H$_{2}$. The comparable formamide/glycolamide and acetamide/glycolamide abundance ratios in both sources suggest a chemically connected amide network across different environments. These results demonstrate that amides can persist and chemically evolve during massive star formation, tracing the chemical continuity from interstellar to protostellar environments.