Reactivity induced at 25 K by low-energy electron irradiation of condensed NH3-CH3COOD (1:1 mixture!

Chemical reactivity is observed following electron irradiation of a binary mixture of ammonia (NH3) and acetic acid (CH3COOD) at 25 K, without any subsequent thermal activation, as evidenced by vibrational high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). Analysis of the HREEL spectra and comparison with infrared and Raman data of different molecules are compatible with glycine formation in its zwitterionic form. The onset for electron induced reaction is found to be at about ∼13 eV. The mechanisms may involve NH radicals interaction with CH3COOD molecules. Then glycine formation does not imply any displacement of reactants, so that it involves only NH3 and CH3COOD neighboring molecules.