Hydrogen abstraction reactions in formic and thioformic acid isomers by
  hydrogen and deuterium atoms. Insights on isomerism and deuteration
  The isomerism of molecules in the interstellar medium and the mechanisms
behind it are essential questions in the chemistry of organic molecules in
space. In particular, for the simple formic and thioformic acids, the low
temperatures found in molecular clouds indicate that cis-trans isomerization in
the gas-phase must be impeded. Reactions happening on top of interstellar dust
grains may explain the isomer interconversion at low temperatures. We studied
the isomerization processes of formic and thioformic acid susceptible to happen
on the surface of interstellar dust grains and initiated by H abstraction
reactions. Similarly, deuterium enrichment of the acids can occur by the same
mechanism. Our objective is to shed light on both topics to increase our
understanding of key precursors of organic molecules in space.
