A scope of prebiotic neat reaction conditions and the mechanism of urea-assisted phosphorylations of alcohols

Abstract

Abstract Two theories of the origin of life on Earth, one located in the Hadean seafloor, the other on the surface of subaerial landmasses and basins, need reconcilement. Natural energy flows moulded seafloors to locally sustain chemical reaction networks reminiscent of metabolism. Subaerial hot milieus gathered organic phosphates to provide robust compartments from phospholipids and heredity from nucleic acid replication and translation. Here, we report on the efficiency and product distribution of the phosphorylation of twelve model alcohols reacting separately, and in selected combinations, all under the same chemically activated conditions, mostly as neat hot solid-liquid mixtures. We afford proof for the dominant reaction mechanism and indicate how prebiotic seafloor and subaerial systems could profit from one another through atmospheric and tidal exchange of organic material.