Prebiotic peptide-formation in the solid state

Abstract

The reactions of benzoate ion and of glycine with adenosine 5′-phosphorimidazolide have been investigated. Benzoate reacts first to give the anhydride, benzoyl-adenylate, which, in the presence of excess imidazole, reacts further to give the 2′- and 3′-esters of adenosine 5′-phosphate. Glycine also first attacks the imidazolide to give an anhydride, but this compound may react further either to give 2′- and 3′-esters or to form peptides, depending on the reaction conditions.