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Updated: Oct 4, 2026

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers
Published on: August 18, 2017
Is interstellar detection of higher members of the linear radicals CnCH and CnN feasible?
F Pauzat1, Y Ellinger, A D McLean
1Molecular Research Institute, Palo Alto, USA.
Abstract:
Rotational constants and dipole moments for linear-chain radicals CnCH and CnN are estimated using a combination of ab initio molecular orbital calculations and observed data on the starting members of the series. CnCH with n = 0-5 have been observed by radioastronomy in carbon-rich interstellar clouds; higher members of the series have 2 pi ground states with large dipole moments and are strong candidates for observation. CN and C3N have also been observed by radioastronomy; higher members of the series, with the possible exception of C5N, have 2 pi ground states with near-zero dipole moments making their interstellar detection hopeless under present observational conditions. C5N can be a strong candidate only if it has a 2 sigma ground state, and our best computations so far indicate that this is not the case.
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