Formaldehyde reactions in dark clouds
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 4, 2026

Scale-up Chemical Synthesis of Thermally-activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters Based on the Dibenzothiophene-S,S-Dioxide Core
Published on: October 24, 2017
A D Sen1, V G Anicich, S R Federman
1Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91109, USA.
Abstract:
The low-pressure reactions of formaldehyde (H2CO) with D+, D2+, D3+, and He+ have been studied by the ion cyclotron resonance technique. These reactions are potential loss processes for formaldehyde in cores of dark interstellar clouds. The deuterated reactants, which are easier to study experimentally, represent direct analogs for protons. Rate coefficients and branching ratios of product channels have been measured. Charge transfer is observed to be the dominant reaction of H2CO with D+, D2+, and He+ ions. Only the D3+ reaction exhibits a proton transfer channel. All reactions proceed at rate coefficients near the collision limit. Proton-deuteron exchange reactions were found to be inefficient processes in the formaldehyde system.
Related Concept Videos
Multiple Halogenation of Methyl Ketones: Haloform Reaction
Ketones with Nonenolizable Aromatic Aldehydes: Claisen–Schmidt Condensation
As the self-condensation of ketones is generally not favored in basic conditions, the self-condensed products do not form in the reaction between ketones and benzaldehyde. The general reaction of Claisen–Schmidt condensation is...
Autoxidation of Ethers to Peroxides and Hydroperoxides
Aldehydes and Ketones with HCN: Cyanohydrin Formation Mechanism
Aldehydes and Ketones with HCN: Cyanohydrin Formation Overview
Carboxylic Acids to Methylesters: Alkylation using Diazomethane

