Molecules in external galaxies

Recently, the authors reported the first detections of HNC, C₂H, CN and, perhaps, HC₃N toward external galaxies. These detections, as well as that of extragalactic methanol, have been obtained using the 30-m IRAM mm-wave telescope. The previous results are revised in the light of recently available high-resolution CO maps of the respective galaxies. The relative abundances are similar to those found toward warm Galactic molecular clouds.