This work presents the results of a theoretical study that analyzed the possibility of nucleobases to form in the interstellar medium, in the Horsehead nebula, which is a region considered an archetype of molecular cloud. Performing the Meudon PDR code, the reactions of the nitrogen bases formation from formamide, which is a precursor compound identified in several interstellar environment, where simulated. The model showed that at least cytosine and uracil presented significant abundances. Finally, from thermochemical and quantum calculations, a investigation was carried out on the formation reactions considered for the nucleobases and no insurmountable energy barrier which would prevent the reactions was found.
@article{arxiv.2303.03963,
title = {Could Nucleobases form in the ISM? A Theoretical Study in the Hoursehead nebula},
author = {Luciene da Silva Coelho and Edgar Mendoza and Amancio Cesar dos Santos Friaça},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2303.03963},
year = {2023}
}