Rotationally resolved IR spectroscopy of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) C6N4H12

Abstract

Context. Hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) appears to be a potential constituent of several objects in space, including comets or Titan's atmosphere and, as an organic residue of ice irradiation in the laboratory, it may be present in the interstellar medium. Aims. We performed a laboratory study of rotationally resolved intense IR bands of HMT to provide accurate line positions and synthetic spectra to be used for potential astronomical detections. Methods. We used synchrotron-based high-resolution Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to record the experimental data. A formalism and programs dedicated to the assignment, analysis, and simulation of absorption spectra of tetrahedral molecules were used to exploit the spectra. Results. Infrared spectra of gas phase HMT were recorded and accurate wavenumbers and molecular parameters for four intense bands located in the 1000-1500 cm-1 spectral range suitable for astronomical searches were derived. © 2014 ESO.