Ionization Energy of Reaction Products in an Ethanol–Carbon Monoxide System in Interstellar Ices

Abstract

Ionization energies are calculated for complex organic molecules formed in the nonequilibrium ethanol–carbon monoxide reaction in interstellar ices. The obtained ionization energies allow molecular structures of C₃H₆O₂ isomers to be determined in the laboratory conditions. Out of seven isomers in question, only ethyl formate is shown to be stable with respect to photoionization by Lyman-α photons (10.2 eV) in the interstellar medium.