163402-56-0Relevant academic research and scientific papers
Studies on a potentially prebiotic synthesis of RNA
Sutherland, John D.,Whitfield, J. Nicole
, p. 11595 - 11626 (1997)
Current thinking supports an early phase of evolution in which information transfer and catalysis were mediated by evolving RNA. A novel potentially prebiotic synthesis of RNA is proposed involving polymerisation through aldol condensation followed by a retro-Amadori rearrangement and ring closure via a base-paired mesomeric heterocyclic betaine intermediate. The proposed monomer 1 is an achiral mixed phosphodiester and herein we report synthetic routes to 1 containing each of the four RNA bases, The solution phase behaviour of 1 containing adenine and uracil has been investigated and preliminary results of polymerisation experiments are also presented.
