Summary
The synthesis of purines and pyrimidines using Oparin-Urey-type primitive Earth atmospheres has been demonstrated by reacting methane, ethane, and ammonia in electrical discharges. Adenine, guanine, 4-aminoimidazole-5-carboxamide (AICA), and isocytosine have been identified by UV spectrometry and paper chromatography as the products of the reaction. The total yields of the identified heterocyclic compounds are 0.0023%. It is concluded that adenine synthesis occurs at a much lower concentration of hydrogen cyanide than has been shown by earlier studies. Pathways for the synthesis of purines from hydrogen cyanide are discussed, and a comparison of the heterocyclic compounds that have been identified in meteorites and in prebiotic reactions is presented.
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Yuasa, S., Flory, D., Basile, B. et al. Abiotic synthesis of purines and other heterocyclic compounds by the action of electrical discharges. J Mol Evol 21, 76–80 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02100630
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02100630