Radiolysis of aqueous solutions of hydrogen cyanide (pH∼6): Compounds of interest in chemical evolution studies (original) (raw)
Summary
Oxygen-free aqueous solutions of hydrogen cyanide, 0.1 M and pH∼6, were exposed to gamma rays from a60Co source, the mixture of nonvolatile products was fractionated and the fractions were analysed. It has been found that the complex mixture contains oligomers and polymers with molecular weights up to 20,000 daltons, mainly polyamides with urea and peptidic fragments. Among the constituents are carbamyl glycinonitrile and carbamyl glycinamide that represent 6.4% and 3.1% of the total of unfractionated material respectively. Urea content is 2.6%, but the derivatives of urea are more abundant. Acid hydrolysis releases several amino acids. Glycine is the most abundant (75% or more of total amino acid content), and its concentration considerably increases in some fractions when the hydrolysis is carried out at 130°C. The role of free radicals in reactions leading to the formations of radiolytic products is considered. Some comparisons are made between findings in the present work, at initial pH∼6, and an earlier study of ammonium cyanide at pH 9.
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Authors and Affiliations
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Beograd, POB 550, 11001, Beograd, Yugoslavia
V. Niketić & S. Nešković - Centro de Estudios Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Aut'onoma de México, Delegación de Coyoacán, 04510, México, D.F., México
Z. D. Draganić & I. G. Draganić - Boris Kidrič Institute of Nuclear Sciences, POB 522, 11001, Beograd, Yugoslavia
S. Jovanović
Authors
- V. Niketić
- Z. D. Draganić
- S. Nešković
- S. Jovanović
- I. G. Draganić
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Niketić, V., Draganić, Z.D., Nešković, S. et al. Radiolysis of aqueous solutions of hydrogen cyanide (pH∼6): Compounds of interest in chemical evolution studies.J Mol Evol 19, 184–191 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02300757
- Received: 28 June 1982
- Revised: 03 September 1982
- Issue date: March 1983
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02300757