Summary
Three hydantoins, namely, hydantoin, 5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 5-carboxymethylidine hydantoin are released on acid-hydrolysis of HCN oligomers. These hydantoins correspond to the major amino acids released on acid-hydrolysis of HCN oligomers. Carbamyl groups present in the HCN oligomers are probably the principal precursors of these hydantoins. 5-Carboxymethylidine hydantoin is formed by the acid-catalyzed cyclization of the dicarbamyl derivative of diaminosuccinic acid. The facile rearrangement of 5-carboxymethylidine hydantoin to orotic acid in base suggests the possibility of a direct route to pyrimidines from HCN.
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For the previous paper in this series see Ferriset al. (1974a).
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Ferris, J.P., Wos, J.D. & Lobo, A.P. Chemical evolution. J Mol Evol 3, 311–316 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01796046
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01796046