title: Prebiotic synthesis of simple sugars by an interstellar formose reaction.
abstract: The prebiotic possibilities for the synthesis of interstellar carbohydrates through a protic variant of the formose reaction under gas phase conditions were studied. Ab initio calculations were used to evaluate potential mechanisms. Based on considerations of barrier heights and temperature variations in the Interstellar Medium the plausibility of extended sugar synthesis will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, México DF, Mexico. ajalbout@u.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Abraham F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jalbout
mesh_terms: D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D000069497:Origin of Life; D013780:Tetroses / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D014306:Trioses / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D013780:Tetroses; D014306:Trioses; C010963:formose sugars