INTERSTELLAR ALCOHOLS

We have investigated the gas-phase chemistry in dense cores where ice mantles containing ethanol and other alcohols have been evaporated. Mo del calculations show that methanol, ethanol propanol, and butanol dri ve a chemistry leading to the formation of several large ethers and es ters. Of these molecules, methyl ethyl ether (CH3OC2H5) and diethyl et her [(C2H5)(2)O] attain the highest abundances and should be present i n detectable quantities within cores rich in ethanol and methanol. Gas -phase reactions act to destroy evaporated ethanol and a low observed abundance of gas-phase C2H5OH does not rule out a high solid-phase abu ndance. Grain surface formation mechanisms and other possible gas-phas e reactions driven by alcohols are discussed, as are observing strateg ies for the detection of these large interstellar molecules.