Formamide-based synthesis of nucleobases by metal(II) octacyanomolybdate(IV): implication in prebiotic chemistry

We propose that double metal cyanides that formed in primeval seas might have played a vital role in chemical evolution and the origin of life. An array of metal octacyanomolybdates (MOCMos) has been synthesized, and their role as catalyst in the formation of nucleobases from formamide has been studied. Formamide, a hydrolysis product of HCN, was taken as starting material for the formation of nucleobases. Recent studies support the presence of formamide on some celestial bodies. Metal octacyanomolybdates, MOCMos (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd), are found to be highly efficient catalysts in the conversion of formamide into different nucleobases. Neat formamide is converted to purine, 4(3H)-pyrimidinone, cytosine, adenine, 9-(hydroxyacetyl)-purine, and thymine in good yield when using MOCMos. The products formed were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry techniques. The results of our study show that insoluble double metal cyanides might have acted as efficient catalysts in the synthesis of various biologically important compounds (e.g., purines, pyrimidines) under primeval seas on Earth or elsewhere in our solar system.