Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) is an international journal which publishes papers on all aspects of astronomy and astrophysics

We present the first detection of (Z)-1,2-ethenediol, (CHOH)₂, the enol form of glycolaldehyde, in the interstellar medium toward the G+0.693−0.027 molecular cloud located in the Galactic Center. We have derived a column density of (1.8 ± 0.1) × 10¹³ cm⁻², which translates into a molecular abundance with respect to molecular hydrogen of 1.3 × 10⁻¹⁰. The abundance ratio between glycolaldehyde and (Z)-1,2-ethenediol is ∼5.2. We discuss several viable formation routes through chemical reactions from precursors such as HCO, H₂CO, CHOH, or CH₂CHOH. We also propose that this species might be an important precursor in the formation of glyceraldehyde (HOCH₂CHOHCHO) in the interstellar medium through combination with the hydroxymethylene (CHOH) radical.

Several imidazolinium salts are synthesized from (L)-valine. A study of the structure relationships is achieved to obtain high diastereomeric interactions with an anionic substrate. High splitting up to 60 Hz of the (rac)-potassium Mosher's salt are observed by NMR spectroscopy.