Can protonated glycoaldehyde and methyl formate form in the interstellar medium (ISM)?

Abstract

In this work a methodology is presented for the synthesis of sugars from basic formaldehyde (H2CO) precursors in the interstellar medium (ISM). This challenging problem has been approached by considering a basic dimerization scheme that eventually leads to diose and methyl formate, using an [image omitted] proton source. This species was chosen due to its ample abundance in the atmosphere.