94086-70-1

We report here a novel reductive coupling reaction of conjugated, non- or poorly enolizable aldehydes induced by H2S and operative in aqueous solutions under prebiotically relevant conditions. This reaction leads from retinal to β-carotene, and from benzylic aldehydes to the corresponding diarylethylenes. This novel reaction also opens a new potentially prebiotic pathway leading from glyoxylic acid to various compounds that are involved in the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle. This C-C bond forming reaction of prebiotic interest might have been operative, notably, in the sulfide-rich environments of hydrothermal vents, which have been postulated as possible sites for the first steps of organic chemical evolution.