The role of formamide in prebiotic chemistry

One of the most humbling aspects in prebiotic chemistry is the fact that we know remarkably little about the geochemical and geophysical conditions of the Earth at the origin of life. The pivotal Miller-Urey experiment suggested a possible path to set a first model of molecular evolution, that is energy (electric discharge) and matter (primitive atmosphere) combined together to yield chemical complexity. Some years after, experimental and computational data showed that formamide (NH 2 CHO) was involved in the formation of amino acids and nucleic acid bases under Miller-Urey like conditions. The chapter describes the effect played by minerals in the synthesis of nucleic acid bases, amino acids and carboxylic acids. Energy sources affect the chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of the synthesis of nucleic acid bases from NH 2 CHO.