Methyl acetate (CH_3_COOCH_3_) rotational transitions

We therefore study the properties of various forms of methyl acetate, namely, CH_3_COOCH_3_, CH_2_DCOOCH_3_, and CH_3_COOCH_2_D. Our simulation reveals that these species could be produced efficiently in both gas and ice phases.

Production of methyl acetate could follow radical-radical reaction between acetyl (CH_3_CO) and methoxy (CH_3_O) radicals. To predict abundances of CH_3_COOCH_3_ along with its two singly deuterated isotopomers and its two isomers (ethyl formate and hydroxyacetone), we prepare a gas-grain chemical network to study the chemical evolution of these molecules. Since gas-phase rate coefficients for methyl acetate and its related species are unknown, either we consider similar rate coefficients for similar types of reactions (by following existing databases) or we carry out quantum chemical calculations to estimate the unknown rate coefficients.