Table 1 Deoxysugar derivatives identified in the ice photolysis residues (regular and ¹³C-labeled)

Compounds^a	Formulas	R_t (min)^b	Abundances in residues^c (pmol)	Detected in meteorites?
Deoxysugars
2-Deoxyribose	C₅H₁₀O₄	61.2, 61.4	217–3855	Undetermined^k
2-Deoxyxylose^d	C₅H₁₀O₄	57.0, 57.3	373–3636^e	Undetermined^k
Deoxysugar alcohols
1,2-Propanediol^f	C₃H₈O₂	9.9	≥8–375	Yes^l,m
1,3-Propanediol^f,g	C₃H₈O₂	36.9	≥19–27	No
2-Methyl-1,3-propanediol^g,h	C₄H₁₀O₂	38.7	≤1038–3354^h	No
2-(Hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol	C₄H₁₀O₃	30.9	n.d.	Yes^l
1,2,3-Butanetriol	C₄H₁₀O₃	14.5	6–39	No
1,2,4-Butanetriol	C₄H₁₀O₃	32.2	35–50	Yes^l
Deoxysugar acids
3,4-Dihydroxybutyric acid^i,j	C₄H₈O₄	16.5	—	Yesⁿ
Sugars
Ribose	C₅H₁₀O₅	64.7, 65.0	237–2467	No

n.d., Not detected
^aCompounds were detected using the (+)-2-butanol/TFAA derivatization method, unless otherwise stated
^bRetention times (R_t) correspond to average values in the GC-MS chromatograms of the residues, or to standard chromatograms if compounds were not detected in the residues. Chiral compounds whose enantiomers are separated have two retention times
^cAbundances for chiral compounds correspond to the sum for both enantiomers
^dTentatively identified by comparison of its mass spectrum with that of the 2-deoxyribose standard (see Fig. 1 and Supplementary Fig. 3)
^eAbundances estimated based on the GC-MS detector response for the 2-deoxyribose standard
^fVolatile compounds that may have been partially lost during the warm-up phase and/or the sample preparation. Abundances given thus correspond to lower limits
^gDetected in samples derivatized with the MTBSTFA method
^hElutes with another unidentified compound with similar mass fragments, so abundances given are upper limits
ⁱTentatively identified by comparison with the NIST mass spectrometry library in samples derivatized with the BSTFA method
^jMay be present in its dimer form
^kThe presence of these compounds in meteorites is uncertain, and further analyses are required
^lDetected in Murchison (Fig. 4)
^mDetected in GRA 06100 (Fig. 4)
ⁿDetected in Murchison and Murray⁴

Search