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Impact of gas-phase protonation and recombination on methanol isotopic ratios

Develop astrochemical gas-phase models to determine how protonation of CH3OD by ions (e.g., CH3OD + X–H+ → CH3OHD+ + X) followed by dissociative recombination (CH3OHD+ + e– → CH3OH + D) changes the CH3OD abundance and the CH2DOH/CH3OD ratio in protostellar environments.

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Background

Ion–molecule reactions in the gas phase can selectively destroy CH3OD, potentially modifying inherited isotopic ratios post-sublimation.

The net effect of protonation/recombination cycles on methanol isotopologues has not been assessed within astrochemical models.

References

To which extent this could change the inherited isotopic ratios of methanol has not been tested in models.

— First Detection of CH3OD in Prestellar Cores (2511.03581 - Kulterer et al., 5 Nov 2025) in Section 5.2 (Survival of Prestellar D/H Ratios in Methanol)