Bond- and Energy-Selective Carbon Abstraction from D-Ribose by Hyperthermal Nitrogen Ions

Stealing C: Scattering of hyperthermal nitrogen ions from a D‐ribose film efficiently s carbon from the molecule to form CN (see scheme). The reaction is strongly bond and energy selective for C5 of D‐ribose in its pyranose form. The sugar moiety of the DNA/RNA backbone will thus be a vulnerable point for damage caused by reactive scattering of secondary atomic nitrogen ions produced by energetic heavy ions.