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Context.  Many C-, O-, and H-containing complex organic molecules (COMs) have been observed in the interstellar medium (ISM) and their formation has been investigated in laboratory experiments. An increasing number of recent detections of large N-bearing COMs motivates our experimental investigation of their chemical origin.   Aims.  We investigate the potential role of acetonitrile (CH 3 CN) as a parent molecule to N-bearing COMs, motivated by its omnipresence in the ISM and structural similarity to another well-known precursor species, CH 3 OH. The aim of the present work is to characterize the chemical complexity that can result from vacuum UV photolysis of a pure CH 3 CN ice and a more realistic mixture of H 2 O:CH 3 CN.   Methods.  The CH 3 CN ice and H 2 O:CH 3 CN ice mixtures were UV irradiated at 20 K. Laser desorption post ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to detect the newly formed COMs in situ. We examined the role of water in the chemistry of interstellar ices through an analysis of two different ratios of H 2 O:CH 3 CN (1:1 and 20:1).   Results.  We find that CH 3 CN is an excellent precursor to the formation of larger nitrogen-containing COMs, including CH 3 CH 2 CN, NCCN/CNCN, and NCCH 2 CH 2 CN. During the UV photolysis of H 2 O:CH 3 CN ice, the water derivatives play a key role in the formation of molecules with functional groups of: imines, amines, amides, large nitriles, carboxylic acids, and alcohols. We discuss possible formation pathways for molecules recently detected in the ISM.

Photolysis of acetonitrile in a water-rich ice as a source of complex organic molecules: CH3CN and H2O:CH3CN ices

Photolysis of acetonitrile in a water-rich ice as a source of complex organic molecules: CH₃CN and H₂O:CH₃CN ices