Metal Catalysis Acting on Nitriles in Early Earth Hydrothermal Systems
Hydrothermal systems are areas in which heated fluids and organic molecules rush through basaltic material rich in metals and minerals. By studying malononitrile and acetonitrile, we examine the effects of metal and mineral nanoparticles on nitrile compounds in anoxic, hydrothermal conditions repres...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/7/1524 |
| _version_ | 1797588565342814208 |
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| author | Miranda Sturtz Christopher House |
| author_facet | Miranda Sturtz Christopher House |
| author_sort | Miranda Sturtz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hydrothermal systems are areas in which heated fluids and organic molecules rush through basaltic material rich in metals and minerals. By studying malononitrile and acetonitrile, we examine the effects of metal and mineral nanoparticles on nitrile compounds in anoxic, hydrothermal conditions representing a prebiotic environment of early Earth. Polymerization, reduction, cyclization, and a phenomenon colloquially known as ‘chemical gardening’ (structure building via reprecipitation of metal compounds or complexing with organics) are all potential outcomes with the addition of metals and minerals. Reduction occurs with the addition of rhodium (Rh) or iron (II) sulfide (FeS), with positive identification of ethanol and ethylamine forming from acetonitrile reduction. We find that polymerization and insoluble product formation were associated with oxide minerals, metallic nickel (Ni), and metallic cobalt (Co) acting as catalysts. Oxide minerals strongly promoted polymerization into insoluble, tar-like products of nitriles. FeS, iron-nickel alloy (FeNi), and rhodium are unique cases that appear to act as reagents by actively participating in chemical gardening without returning to their initial state. Further, FeS tentatively had a phase change into the mineral parabutlerite. This research aims to identify metals and metal minerals that could best serve nitrile catalysis and reactions on early Earth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:53:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-70bca1e4ae11414ebd7e3e71486565b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:53:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-70bca1e4ae11414ebd7e3e71486565b62023-11-18T20:09:42ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292023-07-01137152410.3390/life13071524Metal Catalysis Acting on Nitriles in Early Earth Hydrothermal SystemsMiranda Sturtz0Christopher House1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 116 Deike Building, University Park, PA 16802, USADepartment of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 116 Deike Building, University Park, PA 16802, USAHydrothermal systems are areas in which heated fluids and organic molecules rush through basaltic material rich in metals and minerals. By studying malononitrile and acetonitrile, we examine the effects of metal and mineral nanoparticles on nitrile compounds in anoxic, hydrothermal conditions representing a prebiotic environment of early Earth. Polymerization, reduction, cyclization, and a phenomenon colloquially known as ‘chemical gardening’ (structure building via reprecipitation of metal compounds or complexing with organics) are all potential outcomes with the addition of metals and minerals. Reduction occurs with the addition of rhodium (Rh) or iron (II) sulfide (FeS), with positive identification of ethanol and ethylamine forming from acetonitrile reduction. We find that polymerization and insoluble product formation were associated with oxide minerals, metallic nickel (Ni), and metallic cobalt (Co) acting as catalysts. Oxide minerals strongly promoted polymerization into insoluble, tar-like products of nitriles. FeS, iron-nickel alloy (FeNi), and rhodium are unique cases that appear to act as reagents by actively participating in chemical gardening without returning to their initial state. Further, FeS tentatively had a phase change into the mineral parabutlerite. This research aims to identify metals and metal minerals that could best serve nitrile catalysis and reactions on early Earth.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/7/1524metal catalysisnitrileshydrothermal systemsmineralspolymerizationprebiotic chemistry |
| spellingShingle | Miranda Sturtz Christopher House Metal Catalysis Acting on Nitriles in Early Earth Hydrothermal Systems Life metal catalysis nitriles hydrothermal systems minerals polymerization prebiotic chemistry |
| title | Metal Catalysis Acting on Nitriles in Early Earth Hydrothermal Systems |
| title_full | Metal Catalysis Acting on Nitriles in Early Earth Hydrothermal Systems |
| title_fullStr | Metal Catalysis Acting on Nitriles in Early Earth Hydrothermal Systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metal Catalysis Acting on Nitriles in Early Earth Hydrothermal Systems |
| title_short | Metal Catalysis Acting on Nitriles in Early Earth Hydrothermal Systems |
| title_sort | metal catalysis acting on nitriles in early earth hydrothermal systems |
| topic | metal catalysis nitriles hydrothermal systems minerals polymerization prebiotic chemistry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/7/1524 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mirandasturtz metalcatalysisactingonnitrilesinearlyearthhydrothermalsystems AT christopherhouse metalcatalysisactingonnitrilesinearlyearthhydrothermalsystems |