Sugar synthesis from a gas-phase formose reaction.
Prebiotic possibilities for the synthesis of interstellar ribose through a protic variant of the formose reaction under gas-phase conditions were studied in the absence of any known catalyst. The ion-molecule reaction products, diose and triose, were sought by mass spectrometry, and relevant masses were observed. Ab initio calculations were used to evaluate protic formose mechanism possibilities. A bilateral theoretical and experimental effort yielded a physical model for glycoaldehyde generation whereby a hydronium cation can mediate formaldehyde dimerization followed by covalent bond formation leading to diose and water. These results advance the possibility that ion-molecule reactions between formaldehyde (CH(2)O) and H(3)O(+) lead to formose reaction products and inform us about potential sugar formation processes in interstellar space.
Jalbout
Abraham F
AF
Instituto de Quimica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico D.F. ajalbout@u.arizona.edu
Abrell
Leif
L
Adamowicz
Ludwik
L
Polt
Robin
R
Apponi
A J
AJ
Ziurys
L M
LM
D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004164:Diphosphonates; D018559:Exobiology; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D005740:Gases; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009861:Onium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D000069497:Origin of Life; D012266:Ribose / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D013816:Thermodynamics
D002241:Carbohydrates; D004164:Diphosphonates; D005740:Gases; D009861:Onium Compounds; C071542:cimadronate; D005557:Formaldehyde; C027727:hydronium ion; D012266:Ribose; C010963:formose sugars