Mineral-mediated carbohydrate synthesis by mechanical forces in a primordial geochemical setting.

ABSTRACT: The formation of carbohydrates represents an essential step to provide building blocks and a source of chemical energy in several models for the emergence of life. Formaldehyde, glycolaldehyde and a basic catalyst are the initial components forming a variety of sugar molecules in the cascade-type multi-step formose reaction. While numerous side reactions and even deterioration can be observed in aqueous media, selective prebiotic sugar formation is feasible in solid-state, mechanochemical reactions and might have occurred in early geochemistry. However, the precise role of different basic catalysts and the influence of the atmospheric conditions in the solid-state formose reaction remain unknown. Here we show, that in a primordial scenario the mechanochemical formose reaction is capable to

SUBMITTER: Haas M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9814773 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature