Complex organic molecules, from astronomy to biochemistry

Abstract

To date, about 250 molecules have been discovered in the interstellar medium or circumstellar shells, many of these are complex organic molecules (COMs). The region where a large part of these molecules have been discovered is the molecular cloud of Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2), the region richest in molecules in Milky Way. Molecules of different types such as molecular ions, radicals, ring molecules and stable molecules have been detected. Some of these are formed by gas phase chemistry and others on the surface of interstellar dust grains. The detection of these molecules has been achieved by radiotelescopes at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. Several molecules of biological interest have been detected as precursors of sugars, nucleobases, aminoacids, phospholipids and even a chiral molecule. The discovery of complex organic molecules in space not only contributes to understanding the chemical composition and evolution of the universe, but also supports the hypothesis of "exogenous delivery" at the origin of life.