title: The gamma-irradiation of aqueous hydrogen cyanide in the presence of ferrocyanide or ferricyanide:  implications to prebiotic chemistry.
abstract: The gamma-irradiation of 0.1 M, O2-free, aqueous HCN was studied in the presence of ferrocyanide or ferricyanide in the concentration range 10(-3) - 10(-5) M.  This study was carried out in order to get an insight into the possible role that cyanocomplexes of iron may have played in promoting prebiotic syntheses via the free-radical oligomerization of HCN.  It was found that ferrocyanide or ferricyanide have no effect on the irradiation of 0.1 M HCN solutions at concentrations < or = 10(-4) M.  At high concentrations, 10(-3) M, they lead to a marked decrease in the conversion of HCN.  There was no significant difference due to the oxidation state of iron used, particularly at high doses > or = 100 kGy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park 20742.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navarro-González
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negrón-Mendoza
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Aguirre-Calderón
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ponnamperuma
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002625:Chemistry, Organic; D005292:Ferricyanides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005295:Ferrocyanides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D055601:Organic Chemistry Phenomena
chemical_list: D005292:Ferricyanides; D005295:Ferrocyanides; D005609:Free Radicals; C007931:hexacyanoferrate III; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide; D000641:Ammonia; D006859:Hydrogen; C020354:hexacyanoferrate II