The singularity of this chemical is due to the fact that it is the only one among the molecules arriving from the universe that has a branched, rather than straight, carbon backbone.

The published astrochemical model indicates that both isomers are produced within or upon dust grain ice mantles through the addition of molecular radicals, albeit via differing reaction pathways.

[6] According to Rob Garrod, this detection opens a new frontier in the field regarding the complexity of molecules that can be formed in interstellar space and that might ultimately find their way to the surfaces of planets.

i-PrCN production dominates all reaction mechanisms for which parallel processes are available to both isomers.It is also the most complex shaped molecule in the history.

[7] The rotational spectrum of the branched isomer iso- or i-PrCN, which had only been previously studied to a limited extent in the microwave region, has recently been extensively recorded in the laboratory from the microwave to the submillimeter wave region along with a redetermination of the dipole moment, which appears to be 4.29 D. The latter uncertainty assumes the same source size and rotation temperature for both isomers.

[8] The branched carbon structure of isobutyronitrile is a common feature in those molecules that are considered to be necessary for life – such as amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.

This new discovery lends weight to the idea that biologically crucial molecules, like the mentioned amino acids which are also commonly found in meteorites, were produced even before the process of star formation or before planets such as the Earth were formed.

They are also good solvents for spinning and casting and extractive distillation based on its selective miscibility with organic compounds and can act as removing agents of colouring matters and aromatic alcohols.