Abstract
The mechanism of the condensation of dilute aqueous solutions of HCN and the products formed by these reactions have been investigated. The initial HCN condensation reactions yield 3, a compound which is readily oxidized to 4. A similar oxidation of 5 to 6 was also observed. Urea is formed on hydrolysis of 4. The oxidation-reduction products formed from HCN may be in part a consequence of the oxidation of 3. It has been established by combination GC/MS that the amino acids glycine, diaminosuccinic acid, α-amino-isobutyric acid, aspartic acid, alanine and isoleucine are released on acid hydrolysis of the ‘HCN polymer’. Hydantoin (7), 5,5-dimethylhydantoin (8) and 5-carboxymethyldenehydantoin (10) are also released on acid hydrolysis of the HCN condensation products. The direct conversion of the dicarbonyl derivative of diaminosuccinic acid to orotic acid via 10 at pH 8 has been observed. This conversion suggests a direct route to pyrimidines from HCN.
Chemical Evolution XV. For the previous paper in the series see Ferris and Ryan (1973).
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Ferris, J.P., Wos, J.D., Ryan, T.J., Lobo, A.P., Donner, D.B. (1974). Biomolecules from HCN. In: Oró, J., Miller, S.L., Ponnamperuma, C., Young, R.S. (eds) Cosmochemical Evolution and the Origins of Life. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-1118-6_11
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