Primordial Amino Acids by Reductive Amination of α-Oxo Acids in Conjunction with the Oxidative Formation of Pyrite

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/00404-0399(50)10086-

The theory of an autotrophic origin of life postulates a primordial formation of amino acids by a mild and specific chemical energy source, namely by the reductive amination of α-oxo acids in conjunction with the oxidative formation of pyrite.Here we show experimental proof for this reaction, which involves carbon dioxide as catalyst.