Description
Imine compounds are thought to have a role in the interstellar formation of complex organic species, including pre-biotic molecules. Ketenimine (CH_2_CNH) is one of the four imines discovered in space. It was identified in Sgr B2(N-LMH) through the detection of three rotational lines in absorption. We present an extensive laboratory study of the ground-state rotational spectrum of CH_2_CNH at submillimetre wavelengths, aimed at obtaining accurate rest-frequencies for radio-astronomical searches. The investigation was carried out using a source-modulation microwave spectrometer equipped with a cell that is coupled to a pyrolysis apparatus working at 1000{deg}. The spectrum was recorded in the frequency range 80-620GHz with the detection of 150 transitions.
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