Fig. 4.

The compounds identified in the radiolytic reaction network. All compounds shown were either identified by addition of commercially acquired and synthesized standards, or otherwise inferred. Methanimine, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and 2-iminoethanol are inferred by the observation of aminoacetonitrile, glycolonitrile, lactonitrile, and serinenitrile, respectively, while glycolaldehyde is inferred from the direct NMR detection of its gem-diol form. Cyanogen chloride was observed in previously reported (35) radiolysis experiments under similar high NaCl concentrations. For further details of the proposed mechanisms, see SI Appendix, Schemes.