The reaction between cyano radicals (which are ubiquitous in interstellar clouds) and methylamine (a molecule detected in various interstellar sources) has been investigated in a synergistic experimental and theoretical study. The reaction has been found to be very fast in the entire range of temperatures investigated (23-297 K) by using a CRESU apparatus coupled to pulsed laser photolysis - laser induced fluorescence. The global experimental rate coefficient is given by In addition, dedicated electronic structure calculations of the underlying potential energy surface have been performed, together with capture theory and RRKM calculations. The experimental data have been interpreted in the light of the theoretical calculations and the product branching ratio has been established. According to the present study, in the range of temperatures investigated the title reaction is an efficient interstellar route of formation of cyanamide, NHCN, another interstellar species. The second most important channel is the one leading to methyl cyanamide, CHNHCN (an isomer of aminoacetonitrile), via a CN/H exchange mechanism with a yield of 12% of the global reaction in the entire range of temperatures explored. For a possible inclusion in future astrochemical models we suggest, by referring to the usual expression the following values: α = 3.68 × 10 cm molec s, β = -1.80, γ = 7.79 K for the channel leading to NHCN + CH; α = 5.05 × 10 cm molec s, β = -1.82, γ = 7.93 K for the channel leading to CHNHCN + H.

The reaction of the OH radicals with 4-hydroxy-2-butanone was investigated in the gas phase using an absolute rate method at room temperature and over the pressure range 10-330 Torr in He and air as diluent gases. The rate coefficients were measured using pulsed laser photolysis (PLP) of H(2)O(2) to produce OH and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) to measure the OH temporal profile. An average value of (4.8 ± 1.2) × 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) was obtained. The OH quantum yield following the 266 nm pulsed laser photolysis of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone was measured for the first time and found to be about 0.3%. The investigated kinetic study required accurate measurements of the vapor pressure of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone, which was measured using a static apparatus. The vapor pressure was found to range from 0.056 to 7.11 Torr between 254 and 323 K. This work provides the first absolute rate coefficients for the reaction of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone with OH and the first experimental saturated vapor pressures of the studied compound below 311 K. The obtained results are compared to those of the literature and the effects of the experimental conditions on the reactivity are examined. The calculated tropospheric lifetime obtained in this work suggests that once emitted into the atmosphere, 4H2B may contribute to the photochemical pollution in a local or regional scale.