The formation of iron carbonyl radical anions in the reactions of iron carbonyls with trimethylamine N-oxide

Reduction and Rearrangement of a Boron(I) Carbonyl Complex

The one-electron reduction of a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC)-stabilized arylborylene carbonyl complex yields a dimeric borylketyl radical anion, resulting from an intramolecular aryl migration to the CO carbon atom. Computational analyses support the existence of a [(CAAC)B(CO)Ar].- radical anion intermediate. Further reduction leads to a highly nucleophilic dianionic (boraneylidene)methanolate.

A suggested pioneer organism for the Wächtershäuser origin of life hypothesis

A suggested pioneer organism for the Wächtershäuser origin of life hypothesis is presented. In this scenario, a cubic pyrite crystal edge serves as a catalytic surface for the production of a proto-nucleic acid. Computational analysis demonstrates how the vacant cubic pyrite edge could be populated by iron(II) and hydrogen phosphate, capped with a distorted iron pentacarbonyl. A bridging iron sulfide then forms blocking one side of the edge. The carbonyl on the other side of the edge can then react with either existing uracil or cytosine, to produce a nitrogen-iron carbonyl intermediate. This intermediate serves as a free radical initiator for a polymerization of carbon monoxide and molecular hydrogen. After the fourth carbon is added to the chain, the polymerization is terminated by ring formation yielding a condensed ribose. The resultant product is a proto-nucleic acid, a pioneer organism.