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Methyl Isocyanate (CH3NCO)

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Synonyms

Isocyanatomethane, Methyl carbylamine

Chemical Formula

CH3NCO

Definition

The organic molecule methyl isocyanate is a colorless, flammable liquid at standard temperature and pressure, which is used in the production of some pesticides and adhesives. It is extremely toxic to humans. It has recently been detected in the interstellar medium (in the Galactic Center cloud SgrB2(N)), the low mass protostar IRAS16293-2422, and comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by the Philae lander of the ESA Rosetta mission.

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References and Further Reading

  • Goesmann F, Rosenbauer H, Bredehöft JH, Cabane M, Ehrenfreund P, Gautier T, Giri C, Krüger H, Le Roy L, MacDermott AJ, McKenna-Lawlor S, Meierhenrich UJ, Muñoz Caro GM, Raulin F, Roll R, Steele A, Steininger H, Sternberg R, Szopa C, Thiemann W, Ulamac S (2015) Organic compounds on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko revealed by COSAC mass spectrometry. Science 349(6247)

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  • Halfen DT, Ilyushin VV, Ziurys LM (2015) Interstellar detection of Methyl Isocyanate CH3NCO in SgrB2(N): a link from molecular clouds to comets. Astrophys J 812:L5

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin-Domenech R, Ravilla VM, Jimenez-Serra I, Quenard D, Testi L, Martin-Pintado J (2017) Detection of methyl isocyanate (CH3NCO) in a solar-type protostar. Mon Not R Astron Soc 469:2230–2234

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    William M. Irvine

Authors
  1. William M. Irvine
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Correspondence to William M. Irvine .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  2. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    William M. Irvine

  3. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  6. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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Irvine, W.M. (2019). Methyl Isocyanate (CH3NCO). In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_5324-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_5324-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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