1
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Tiwary P. Modeling prebiotic chemistries with quantum accuracy at classical costs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2408742121. [PMID: 38809708 PMCID: PMC11161769 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2408742121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pratyush Tiwary
- Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742
- University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing, Bethesda, MD20852
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2
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Nulakani NVR, Ali MA. Unveiling the chemical kinetics of aminomethanol (NH 2CH 2OH): insights into O . H and O 2 photo-oxidation reactions and formamide dominance. Front Chem 2024; 12:1407355. [PMID: 38873406 PMCID: PMC11169873 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1407355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Aminomethanol is released into the atmosphere through various sources, including biomass burning. In this study, we have expounded the chemical kinetics of aminomethanol in the reaction pathways initiated by the hydroxyl radical (O ˙ H) with the aid of ab initio//density functional theory (DFT) i.e., coupled-cluster theory (CCSD(T))//hybrid-DFT (M06-2X/6-311++G (3df, 3pd). We have explored various possible directions of theO ˙ H radical on aminomethanol, as well as the formation of distinct pre-reactive complexes. Our computational findings reveal that the H transfer necessitates activation energies ranging from 4.1 to 6.5 kcal/mol from the -CH2 group, 3.5-6.5 kcal/mol from the -NH2 group and 7-9.3 kcal/mol from the -OH group of three rotational conformers. The H transfer from -CH2, -NH2 and -OH exhibits an estimated total rate constant (k OH) of approximately 1.97 × 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 at 300 K. The branching fraction analysis indicates a pronounced dominance of C-centered NH2C ˙ HOH radicals with a favorability of 77%, surpassing the N-centeredN ˙ HCH2OH (20%) and O-centered NH2CH2O ˙ (3%) radicals. Moreover, our investigation delves into the oxidation of the prominently favored carbon-centered NH2C ˙ HOH radical through its interaction with atmospheric oxygen molecules. Intriguingly, our findings reveal that formamide (NH2CHO) emerges as the predominant product in the NH2C ˙ HOH + 3O2 reaction, eclipsing alternative outcomes such as amino formic acid (NH2COOH) and formimidic acid (HN = C(H)-OH). At atmospheric conditions pertinent to the troposphere, the branching fraction value for the formation of formamide is about 99%, coupled with a rate constant of 5.5 × 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1. Finally, we have scrutinized the detrimental impact of formamide on the atmosphere. Interaction of formamide with atmospheric hydroxyl radicals could give rise to the production of potentially perilous compounds such as HNCO. Further, unreactedN ˙ HCH2OH radicals may initiate the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines when reacting with trace N-oxides (namely, NO and NO2). This, in turn, escalates the environmental risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohamad Akbar Ali
- Department of Chemistry, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for the Catalyst and Separations, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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3
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Zhang S, Makoś MZ, Jadrich RB, Kraka E, Barros K, Nebgen BT, Tretiak S, Isayev O, Lubbers N, Messerly RA, Smith JS. Exploring the frontiers of condensed-phase chemistry with a general reactive machine learning potential. Nat Chem 2024; 16:727-734. [PMID: 38454071 PMCID: PMC11087274 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01427-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Atomistic simulation has a broad range of applications from drug design to materials discovery. Machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) have become an efficient alternative to computationally expensive ab initio simulations. For this reason, chemistry and materials science would greatly benefit from a general reactive MLIP, that is, an MLIP that is applicable to a broad range of reactive chemistry without the need for refitting. Here we develop a general reactive MLIP (ANI-1xnr) through automated sampling of condensed-phase reactions. ANI-1xnr is then applied to study five distinct systems: carbon solid-phase nucleation, graphene ring formation from acetylene, biofuel additives, combustion of methane and the spontaneous formation of glycine from early earth small molecules. In all studies, ANI-1xnr closely matches experiment (when available) and/or previous studies using traditional model chemistry methods. As such, ANI-1xnr proves to be a highly general reactive MLIP for C, H, N and O elements in the condensed phase, enabling high-throughput in silico reactive chemistry experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Małgorzata Z Makoś
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA
- Computer, Computational, and Statistical Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Ryan B Jadrich
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
- Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Elfi Kraka
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kipton Barros
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
- Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Benjamin T Nebgen
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
- Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Olexandr Isayev
- Department of Chemistry, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas Lubbers
- Computer, Computational, and Statistical Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA.
| | - Richard A Messerly
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA.
| | - Justin S Smith
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA.
- NVIDIA Corp., Santa Clara, CA, USA.
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4
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France-Lanord A, Vroylandt H, Salanne M, Rotenberg B, Saitta AM, Pietrucci F. Data-Driven Path Collective Variables. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:3069-3084. [PMID: 38619076 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.4c00123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Identifying optimal collective variables to model transformations using atomic-scale simulations is a long-standing challenge. We propose a new method for the generation, optimization, and comparison of collective variables that can be thought of as a data-driven generalization of the path collective variable concept. It consists of a kernel ridge regression of the committor probability, which encodes a transformation's progress. The resulting collective variable is one-dimensional, interpretable, and differentiable, making it appropriate for enhanced sampling simulations requiring biasing. We demonstrate the validity of the method on two different applications: a precipitation model and the association of Li+ and F- in water. For the former, we show that global descriptors such as the permutation invariant vector allow reaching an accuracy far from the one achieved via simpler, more intuitive variables. For the latter, we show that information correlated with the transformation mechanism is contained in the first solvation shell only and that inertial effects prevent the derivation of optimal collective variables from the atomic positions only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur France-Lanord
- Institut des Sciences du Calcul et des Données, ISCD, Sorbonne Université, F-75005 Paris, France
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Sorbonne Université, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Hadrien Vroylandt
- Institut des Sciences du Calcul et des Données, ISCD, Sorbonne Université, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Salanne
- Physicochimie des Électrolytes et Nanosystèmes Interfaciaux, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 4 Place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 75231 Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Rotenberg
- Physicochimie des Électrolytes et Nanosystèmes Interfaciaux, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 4 Place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - A Marco Saitta
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Sorbonne Université, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Fabio Pietrucci
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Sorbonne Université, F-75005 Paris, France
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5
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Ravanbodshirazi S, Boutfol T, Safaridehkohneh N, Finkler M, Mohammadi-Kambs M, Ott A. The Nature of the Spark Is a Pivotal Element in the Design of a Miller-Urey Experiment. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2201. [PMID: 38004341 PMCID: PMC10672138 DOI: 10.3390/life13112201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Miller and Urey applied electric sparks to a reducive mixture of CH4, NH3, and water to obtain a complex organic mixture including biomolecules. In this study, we examined the impact of temperature, initial pressure, ammonia concentration, and the spark generator on the chemical profile of a Miller-Urey-type prebiotic broth. We analyzed the broth composition using Gas Chromatography combined with Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS). The results point towards strong compositional changes with the nature of the spark. Ammonia exhibited catalytic properties even with non-nitrogen-containing compounds. A more elevated temperature led to a higher variety of substances. We conclude that to reproduce such a broth as well as possible, all the studied parameters need to be tightly controlled, the most difficult and important being spark generation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Albrecht Ott
- Biological Experimental Physics, Center for Biophysics, Faculity of Natural Sciences and Technology, Saarland University, Campus B2 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany; (S.R.)
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6
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Beyazay T, Martin WF, Tüysüz H. Direct Synthesis of Formamide from CO 2 and H 2O with Nickel-Iron Nitride Heterostructures under Mild Hydrothermal Conditions. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:19768-19779. [PMID: 37642297 PMCID: PMC7615090 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Formamide can serve as a key building block for the synthesis of organic molecules relevant to premetabolic processes. Natural pathways for its synthesis from CO2 under early earth conditions are lacking. Here, we report the thermocatalytic conversion of CO2 and H2O to formate and formamide over Ni-Fe nitride heterostructures in the absence of synthetic H2 and N2 under mild hydrothermal conditions. While water molecules act as both a solvent and hydrogen source, metal nitrides serve as nitrogen sources to produce formamide in the temperature range of 25-100 °C under 5-50 bar. Longer reaction times promote the C-C bond coupling and formation of acetate and acetamide as additional products. Besides liquid products, methane and ethane are also produced as gas-phase products. Postreaction characterization of Ni-Fe nitride particles reveals structural alteration and provides insights into the potential reaction mechanism. The findings indicate that gaseous CO2 can serve as a carbon source for the formation of C-N bonds in formamide and acetamide over the Ni-Fe nitride heterostructure under simulated hydrothermal vent conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuğçe Beyazay
- Max-Planck-Institut fur Kohlenforschung, 45470 Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany
| | - William F. Martin
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, University of Dusseldorf, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Harun Tüysüz
- Max-Planck-Institut fur Kohlenforschung, 45470 Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany
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7
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Cassone G, Saija F, Sponer J, Shaik S. The Reactivity-Enhancing Role of Water Clusters in Ammonia Aqueous Solutions. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:7808-7813. [PMID: 37623433 PMCID: PMC10494223 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c01810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Among the many prototypical acid-base systems, ammonia aqueous solutions hold a privileged place, owing to their omnipresence in various planets and their universal solvent character. Although the theoretical optimal water-ammonia molar ratio to form NH4+ and OH- ion pairs is 50:50, our ab initio molecular dynamics simulations show that the tendency of forming these ionic species is inversely (directly) proportional to the amount of ammonia (water) in ammonia aqueous solutions, up to a water-ammonia molar ratio of ∼75:25. Here we prove that the reactivity of these liquid mixtures is rooted in peculiar microscopic patterns emerging at the H-bonding scale, where the highly orchestrated motion of 5 solvating molecules modulates proton transfer events through local electric fields. This study demonstrates that the reaction of water with NH3 is catalyzed by a small cluster of water molecules, in which an H atom possesses a high local electric field, much like the effect observed in catalysis by water droplets [ PNAS 2023, 120, e2301206120].
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute
for Physical-Chemical Processes, Italian
National Research Council (CNR-IPCF), Viale Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Franz Saija
- Institute
for Physical-Chemical Processes, Italian
National Research Council (CNR-IPCF), Viale Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute
of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czechia
| | - Sason Shaik
- Institute
of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
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8
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Conti Nibali V, Maiti S, Saija F, Heyden M, Cassone G. Electric-field induced entropic effects in liquid water. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:2889002. [PMID: 37154276 DOI: 10.1063/5.0139460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Externally applied electric fields in liquid water can induce a plethora of effects with wide implications in electrochemistry and hydrogen-based technologies. Although some effort has been made to elucidate the thermodynamics associated with the application of electric fields in aqueous systems, to the best of our knowledge, field-induced effects on the total and local entropy of bulk water have never been presented so far. Here, we report on classical TIP4P/2005 and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations measuring entropic contributions carried by diverse field intensities in liquid water at room temperature. We find that strong fields are capable of aligning large fractions of molecular dipoles. Nevertheless, the order-maker action of the field leads to quite modest entropy reductions in classical simulations. Albeit more significant variations are recorded during first-principles simulations, the associated entropy modifications are small compared to the entropy change involved in the freezing phenomenon, even at intense fields slightly beneath the molecular dissociation threshold. This finding further corroborates the idea that electrofreezing (i.e., the electric-field-induced crystallization) cannot take place in bulk water at room temperature. In addition, here, we propose a molecular-dynamics-based analysis (3D-2PT) that spatially resolves the local entropy and the number density of bulk water under an electric field, which enables us to map their field-induced changes in the environment of reference H2O molecules. By returning detailed spatial maps of the local order, the proposed approach is capable of establishing a link between entropic and structural modifications with atomistic resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Conti Nibali
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Sthitadhi Maiti
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
| | - Franz Saija
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Matthias Heyden
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
| | - Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), 98158 Messina, Italy
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9
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Civiš S, Pastorek A, Ferus M, Yurchenko SN, Boudjema NI. Infrared Spectra of Small Radicals for Exoplanetary Spectroscopy: OH, NH, CN and CH: The State of Current Knowledge. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083362. [PMID: 37110598 PMCID: PMC10143568 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we present a current state-of-the-art review of middle-to-near IR emission spectra of four simple astrophysically relevant molecular radicals-OH, NH, CN and CH. The spectra of these radicals were measured by means of time-resolved Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the 700-7500 cm-1 spectral range and with 0.07-0.02 cm-1 spectral resolution. The radicals were generated in a glow discharge of gaseous mixtures in a specially designed discharge cell. The spectra of short-lived radicals published here are of great importance, especially for the detailed knowledge and study of the composition of exoplanetary atmospheres in selected new planets. Today, with the help of the James Webb telescope and upcoming studies with the help of Plato and Ariel satellites, when the investigated spectral area is extended into the infrared spectral range, it means that detailed knowledge of the infrared spectra of not only stable molecules but also the spectra of short-lived radicals or ions, is indispensable. This paper follows a simple structure. Each radical is described in a separate chapter, starting with historical and actual theoretical background, continued by our experimental results and concluded by spectral line lists with assigned notation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Adam Pastorek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
| | - Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Sergei N Yurchenko
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Noor-Ines Boudjema
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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10
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Paczelt V, Wende RC, Schreiner PR, Eckhardt AK. Glycine Imine-The Elusive α-Imino Acid Intermediate in the Reductive Amination of Glyoxylic Acid. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202218548. [PMID: 36656102 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Simple unhindered aldimines tend to hydrolyze or oligomerize and are therefore spectroscopically not well characterized. Herein we report the formation and spectroscopic characterization of the simplest imino acid, namely glycine imine, by cryogenic matrix isolation IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Glycine imine forms after UV irradiation of 2-azidoacetic acid by N2 extrusion in anti-(E,E)- and anti-(Z,Z)-conformation that can be photochemically interconverted. In matrix isolation pyrolysis experiments with 2-azidoacetic acid, glycine imine cannot be trapped as it further decarboxylates to aminomethylene. In aqueous solution glycine imine is hydrolyzed to hydroxy glycine and hydrated glyoxylic acid. At higher concentrations or in the presence of FeII SO4 as a reducing agent glycine imine undergoes self-reduction by oxidative decarboxylation chemistry. Glycine imine may be seen as one of the key reaction intermediates connecting prebiotic amino acid and sugar formation chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Paczelt
- Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Raffael C Wende
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Peter R Schreiner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - André K Eckhardt
- Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
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11
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Natural Radioactivity and Chemical Evolution on the Early Earth: Prebiotic Chemistry and Oxygenation. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27238584. [PMID: 36500676 PMCID: PMC9740107 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It is generally recognized that the evolution of the early Earth was affected by an external energy source: radiation from the early Sun. The hypothesis about the important role of natural radioactivity, as a source of internal energy in the evolution of the early Earth, is considered and substantiated in this work. The decay of the long-lived isotopes 232Th, 238U, 235U, and 40K in the Global Ocean initiated the oxygenation of the hydro- and atmosphere, and the abiogenesis. The content of isotopes in the ocean and the kinetics of their decay, the values of the absorbed dose and dose rate, and the efficiency of sea water radiolysis, as a function of time, were calculated. The ocean served as both a "reservoir" that collected components of the early atmosphere and products of their transformations, and a "converter" in which further chemical reactions of these compounds took place. Radical mechanisms were proposed for the formation of simple amino acids, sugars, and nitrogen bases, i.e., the key structures of all living things, and also for the formation of oxygen. The calculation results confirm the possible important role of natural radioactivity in the evolution of terrestrial matter, and the emergence of life.
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12
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Lavigne C, Gomes G, Pollice R, Aspuru-Guzik A. Guided discovery of chemical reaction pathways with imposed activation. Chem Sci 2022; 13:13857-13871. [PMID: 36544742 PMCID: PMC9710306 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc05135d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Computational power and quantum chemical methods have improved immensely since computers were first applied to the study of reactivity, but the de novo prediction of chemical reactions has remained challenging. We show that complex reaction pathways can be efficiently predicted in a guided manner using chemical activation imposed by geometrical constraints of specific reactive modes, which we term imposed activation (IACTA). Our approach is demonstrated on realistic and challenging chemistry, such as a triple cyclization cascade involved in the total synthesis of a natural product, a water-mediated Michael addition, and several oxidative addition reactions of complex drug-like molecules. Notably and in contrast with traditional hand-guided computational chemistry calculations, our method requires minimal human involvement and no prior knowledge of the products or the associated mechanisms. We believe that IACTA will be a transformational tool to screen for chemical reactivity and to study both by-product formation and decomposition pathways in a guided way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrille Lavigne
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto214 College St.TorontoOntarioM5T 3A1Canada
| | - Gabe Gomes
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto214 College St.TorontoOntarioM5T 3A1Canada,Chemical Physics Theory Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto80 St George StTorontoOntarioM5S 3H6Canada
| | - Robert Pollice
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto214 College St.TorontoOntarioM5T 3A1Canada,Chemical Physics Theory Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto80 St George StTorontoOntarioM5S 3H6Canada
| | - Alán Aspuru-Guzik
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto214 College St.TorontoOntarioM5T 3A1Canada,Chemical Physics Theory Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto80 St George StTorontoOntarioM5S 3H6Canada,Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto200 College St.OntarioM5S 3E5Canada,Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Toronto184 College St.OntarioM5S 3E4Canada,Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence661 University Ave Suite 710TorontoOntarioM5G 1M1Canada,Lebovic Fellow, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR)661 University AveTorontoOntarioM5GCanada
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13
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Cassone G, Sponer J, Sponer JE, Saija F. Electrofreezing of Liquid Ammonia. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:9889-9894. [PMID: 36255376 PMCID: PMC9619927 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c02576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Here we prove that, in addition to temperature and pressure, another important thermodynamic variable permits the exploration of the phase diagram of ammonia: the electric field. By means of (path integral) ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we predict that, upon applying intense electric fields on ammonia, the electrofreezing phenomenon occurs, leading the liquid toward a novel ferroelectric solid phase. This study proves that electric fields can generally be exploited as the access key to otherwise-unreachable regions in phase diagrams, unveiling the existence of new condensed-phase structures. Furthermore, the reported findings have manifold practical implications, from the safe storage and transportation of ammonia to the understanding of the solid structures this compound forms in planetary contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute
for Chemical-Physical Processes, National
Research Council of Italy, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute
of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czechia
- Regional
Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials, The Czech Advanced
Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacky University Olomouc, Slechtitelu 27, 77900 Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Judit E. Sponer
- Institute
of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czechia
| | - Franz Saija
- Institute
for Chemical-Physical Processes, National
Research Council of Italy, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
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14
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Saha A, Yi R, Fahrenbach AC, Wang A, Jia TZ. A Physicochemical Consideration of Prebiotic Microenvironments for Self-Assembly and Prebiotic Chemistry. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12101595. [PMID: 36295030 PMCID: PMC9604842 DOI: 10.3390/life12101595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The origin of life on Earth required myriads of chemical and physical processes. These include the formation of the planet and its geological structures, the formation of the first primitive chemicals, reaction, and assembly of these primitive chemicals to form more complex or functional products and assemblies, and finally the formation of the first cells (or protocells) on early Earth, which eventually evolved into modern cells. Each of these processes presumably occurred within specific prebiotic reaction environments, which could have been diverse in physical and chemical properties. While there are resources that describe prebiotically plausible environments or nutrient availability, here, we attempt to aggregate the literature for the various physicochemical properties of different prebiotic reaction microenvironments on early Earth. We introduce a handful of properties that can be quantified through physical or chemical techniques. The values for these physicochemical properties, if they are known, are then presented for each reaction environment, giving the reader a sense of the environmental variability of such properties. Such a resource may be useful for prebiotic chemists to understand the range of conditions in each reaction environment, or to select the medium most applicable for their targeted reaction of interest for exploratory studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Saha
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, 600 1st Ave, Floor 1, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Amity Institute of Applied Sciences, Amity University, Kolkata 700135, India
| | - Ruiqin Yi
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-IE-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Albert C. Fahrenbach
- School of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Anna Wang
- School of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Correspondence: (A.W.); (T.Z.J.)
| | - Tony Z. Jia
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, 600 1st Ave, Floor 1, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-IE-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
- Correspondence: (A.W.); (T.Z.J.)
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15
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Pastorek A, Clark VHJ, Yurchenko SN, Ferus M, Civiš S. New physical insights: Formamide discharge decomposition and the role of fragments in the formation of large biomolecules. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2022; 278:121322. [PMID: 35537261 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2022.121322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this work we present a time-resolved FTIR spectroscopic study on kinetics of atomic and molecular species, specifically CO, CN radical, N2, HCN and CO2 generated in a glow discharge of formamide-nitrogen-water mixture in a helium buffer gas. Radicals such as NH, CH and OH have been proven to be fundamental stones of subsequent chemical reactions having a crucial role in a prebiotic synthesis of large organic molecules. This work contains three main goals. Firstly, we present our time-resolved spectra of formamide decomposition products and discuss the mechanism of collisional excitations between specific species. Secondly, according to our time resolution, we demonstrate and explain the band shape of CO's first overtone and the energy transfer between excited nitrogen and CO, present in our spectra. Lastly, we present theoretical results for the non-LTE modelling of the spectra using bi-temperature approach and a 1D harmonic Franck-Condon approach for the multi-molecule spectra of the formamide decomposition process in the 1800-5600 cm-1 spectral range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pastorek
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic; Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Břehová 78/7, 11519 Prague 1, Czech Republic
| | - Victoria H J Clark
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Sergei N Yurchenko
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
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16
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Devergne T, Magrino T, Pietrucci F, Saitta AM. Combining Machine Learning Approaches and Accurate Ab Initio Enhanced Sampling Methods for Prebiotic Chemical Reactions in Solution. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:5410-5421. [PMID: 35930696 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The study of the thermodynamics, kinetics, and microscopic mechanisms of chemical reactions in solution requires the use of advanced free-energy methods for predictions to be quantitative. This task is however a formidable one for atomistic simulation methods, as the cost of quantum-based ab initio approaches, to obtain statistically meaningful samplings of the relevant chemical spaces and networks, becomes exceedingly heavy. In this work, we critically assess the optimal structure and minimal size of an ab initio training set able to lead to accurate free-energy profiles sampled with neural network potentials. The results allow one to propose an ab initio protocol where the ad hoc inclusion of a machine-learning (ML)-based task can significantly increase the computational efficiency, while keeping the ab initio accuracy and, at the same time, avoiding some of the notorious extrapolation risks in typical atomistic ML approaches. We focus on two representative, and computationally challenging, reaction steps of the classic Strecker-cyanohydrin mechanism for glycine synthesis in water solution, where the main precursors are formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. We demonstrate that indistinguishable ab initio quality results are obtained, thanks to the ML subprotocol, at about 1 order of magnitude less of computational load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothée Devergne
- UMR CNRS 7590, Muséum National d' Histoire Naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, Sorbonne Université, 75252 Paris, France
| | - Théo Magrino
- UMR CNRS 7590, Muséum National d' Histoire Naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, Sorbonne Université, 75252 Paris, France
| | - Fabio Pietrucci
- UMR CNRS 7590, Muséum National d' Histoire Naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, Sorbonne Université, 75252 Paris, France
| | - A Marco Saitta
- UMR CNRS 7590, Muséum National d' Histoire Naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, Sorbonne Université, 75252 Paris, France
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17
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Amante G, Sponer JE, Sponer J, Saija F, Cassone G. A Computational Quantum-Based Perspective on the Molecular Origins of Life’s Building Blocks. ENTROPY 2022; 24:e24081012. [PMID: 35892991 PMCID: PMC9394336 DOI: 10.3390/e24081012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The search for the chemical origins of life represents a long-standing and continuously debated enigma. Despite its exceptional complexity, in the last decades the field has experienced a revival, also owing to the exponential growth of the computing power allowing for efficiently simulating the behavior of matter—including its quantum nature—under disparate conditions found, e.g., on the primordial Earth and on Earth-like planetary systems (i.e., exoplanets). In this minireview, we focus on some advanced computational methods capable of efficiently solving the Schro¨dinger equation at different levels of approximation (i.e., density functional theory)—such as ab initio molecular dynamics—and which are capable to realistically simulate the behavior of matter under the action of energy sources available in prebiotic contexts. In addition, recently developed metadynamics methods coupled with first-principles simulations are here reviewed and exploited to answer to old enigmas and to propose novel scenarios in the exponentially growing research field embedding the study of the chemical origins of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Amante
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Science, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, Università degli Studi di Messina, V. le F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy;
| | - Judit E. Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IBP-CAS), Kràlovopolskà 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.E.S.); (J.S.)
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IBP-CAS), Kràlovopolskà 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.E.S.); (J.S.)
| | - Franz Saija
- Institute for Physical-Chemical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), V. le F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (G.C.)
| | - Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute for Physical-Chemical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), V. le F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (G.C.)
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18
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Breaking the chiral mirror of alanine with dipole moment and oriented electric field: Violations of parity degeneracy and a possible answer to nature’s homochirality. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2021.113446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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19
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Criado-Reyes J, Bizzarri BM, García-Ruiz JM, Saladino R, Di Mauro E. The role of borosilicate glass in Miller-Urey experiment. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21009. [PMID: 34697338 PMCID: PMC8545935 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00235-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
We have designed a set of experiments to test the role of borosilicate reactor on the yielding of the Miller-Urey type of experiment. Two experiments were performed in borosilicate flasks, two in a Teflon flask and the third couple in a Teflon flask with pieces of borosilicate submerged in the water. The experiments were performed in CH4, N2, and NH3 atmosphere either buffered at pH 8.7 with NH4Cl or unbuffered solutions at pH ca. 11, at room temperature. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy results show important differences in the yields, the number of products, and molecular weight. In particular, a dipeptide, multi-carbon dicarboxylic acids, PAHs, and a complete panel of biological nucleobases form more efficiently or exclusively in the borosilicate vessel. Our results offer a better explanation of the famous Miller's experiment showing the efficiency of borosilicate in a triphasic system including water and the reduced Miller-Urey atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Criado-Reyes
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Granada, Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, 18100, Granada, Spain
| | - Bruno M Bizzarri
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Juan Manuel García-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Granada, Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, 18100, Granada, Spain.
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Ernesto Di Mauro
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
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20
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Cassone G, Sponer J, Saija F. Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Studies of the Electric-Field-Induced Catalytic Effects on Liquids. Top Catal 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11244-021-01487-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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21
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Futera Z, English NJ. Water Breakup at Fe 2O 3-Hematite/Water Interfaces: Influence of External Electric Fields from Nonequilibrium Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:6818-6826. [PMID: 34270253 PMCID: PMC8397349 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The dynamical properties of physically and chemically adsorbed water molecules at pristine hematite-(001) surfaces have been studied by means of nonequilibrium ab initio molecular dynamics (NE-AIMD) in the NVT ensemble at room temperature, in the presence of externally applied, uniform static electric fields of increasing intensity. The dissociation of water molecules to form chemically adsorbed species was scrutinized, in addition to charge redistribution and Grotthus proton hopping between water molecules. Dynamical properties of the adsorbed water molecules and OH- and H3O+ ions were gauged, such as the hydrogen bonds between protons in water molecules and the bridging oxygen atoms at the hematite surface, as well as the interactions between oxygen atoms in adsorbed water molecules and iron atoms at the hematite surface. The development of Helmholtz charge layers via water breakup at Fe2O3-hematite/water interfaces is also an interesting feature, with the development of protonic conduction on the surface and more bulk-like water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdenek Futera
- Faculty
of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Niall J. English
- School
of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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22
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A computational study on the formations of formamide analogues: Interesting chemistry by silicon analogues. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2021.113290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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23
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Micca Longo G, Vialetto L, Diomede P, Longo S, Laporta V. Plasma Modeling and Prebiotic Chemistry: A Review of the State-of-the-Art and Perspectives. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26123663. [PMID: 34208472 PMCID: PMC8235047 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We review the recent progress in the modeling of plasmas or ionized gases, with compositions compatible with that of primordial atmospheres. The plasma kinetics involves elementary processes by which free electrons ultimately activate weakly reactive molecules, such as carbon dioxide or methane, thereby potentially starting prebiotic reaction chains. These processes include electron–molecule reactions and energy exchanges between molecules. They are basic processes, for example, in the famous Miller-Urey experiment, and become relevant in any prebiotic scenario where the primordial atmosphere is significantly ionized by electrical activity, photoionization or meteor phenomena. The kinetics of plasma displays remarkable complexity due to the non-equilibrium features of the energy distributions involved. In particular, we argue that two concepts developed by the plasma modeling community, the electron velocity distribution function and the vibrational distribution function, may unlock much new information and provide insight into prebiotic processes initiated by electron–molecule collisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Micca Longo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Edoardo Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Luca Vialetto
- Center for Computational Energy Research, DIFFER—Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research, De Zaale 20, 5612 AJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands;
| | - Paola Diomede
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Paul Henri Spaaklaan 1, 6229 GS Maastricht, The Netherlands;
| | - Savino Longo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Edoardo Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy;
- Istituto per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Plasmi, CNR, Via Amendola, 122/D, 70126 Bari, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0805442088
| | - Vincenzo Laporta
- Istituto per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Plasmi, CNR, Via Amendola, 122/D, 70126 Bari, Italy;
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24
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Cassone G, Saija F. Interstellar chemical reactions toward the synthesis of the life's building blocks: Comment on "Insoluble organic matter in chondrites: Archetypal melanin-like PAH-based multifunctionality at the origin of life?" by M. d'Ischia et al. Phys Life Rev 2021; 38:140-142. [PMID: 34049816 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cassone
- CNR - Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes (IPCF), Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 37, I-98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Franz Saija
- CNR - Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes (IPCF), Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 37, I-98158 Messina, Italy.
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25
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Hydrogenations of Isocyanic Acid: A Computational Study on Four Possible Concerted Paths for Formamide Formation. Theor Chem Acc 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00214-021-02750-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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26
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Stuyver T, Shaik S. Promotion Energy Analysis Predicts Reaction Modes: Nucleophilic and Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution Reactions. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:4367-4378. [PMID: 33689334 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c00307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
To develop an approach to pre-emptively predict the existence of major reaction modes associated with a chemical system, based on exclusive consideration of reactant properties, we build herein on the valence bond perspective of chemical reactivity. In this perspective, elementary chemical reactions are conceptualized as crossovers between individual diabatic/semilocalized states. As demonstrated, the spacings between the main diabatic states in the reactant geometries-the so-called promotion energies-contain predictive information about which types of crossings are likely to occur on a potential energy surface, facilitating the identification of potential transition states and products. As an added bonus, promotion energy analysis provides direct insight into the impact of environmental effects, e.g., the presence of (polar) solvents and/or (local) electric fields, on a mechanistic landscape. We illustrate the usefulness of our approach by focusing on model nucleophilic and electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions. Overall, we envision our analysis to be useful not only as a tool for conceptualizing individual mechanistic landscapes but also as a facilitator of systematic reaction-network exploration efforts. Because the emerging VB descriptors are computationally inexpensive (and can alternatively be inferred through machine learning), they could be evaluated on-the-fly as part of an exploration algorithm. The so-predicted reaction modes could subsequently be examined in detail through computationally more-demanding methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thijs Stuyver
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Sason Shaik
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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27
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Magrino T, Pietrucci F, Saitta AM. Step by Step Strecker Amino Acid Synthesis from Ab Initio Prebiotic Chemistry. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:2630-2637. [PMID: 33719462 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c00194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The amino acids synthesis from elementary precursors in abiotic conditions is traditionally described according to the Strecker reaction, thoroughly invoked to justify the observation of amino acids in extraterrestrial samples and their emergence in the primordial Earth. To this day, however, a quantitative microscopic description of the mechanism, thermodynamics, and kinetics of the multistep Strecker reaction is still lacking. In the present work we tackle this study by adopting a state-of-the-art ab initio computational approach, combining an efficient scheme of exploration of the relevant chemical networks with a rigorous determination of the underlying free energy and transition states. We determine the step-by-step chemical pathway from "Strecker precursors" to glycine in solution and calculate the corresponding full free energy landscape. Our results agree well with the scarce available experimental data and complete them, thus providing the first end-to-end study of this complex reaction, a crucial bottleneck for the emergence of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo Magrino
- IMPMC, UMR 7590, Sorbonne Université, MNHN, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Fabio Pietrucci
- IMPMC, UMR 7590, Sorbonne Université, MNHN, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - A Marco Saitta
- IMPMC, UMR 7590, Sorbonne Université, MNHN, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
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28
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d'Ischia M, Manini P, Martins Z, Remusat L, O'D Alexander CM, Puzzarini C, Barone V, Saladino R. Insoluble organic matter in chondrites: Archetypal melanin-like PAH-based multifunctionality at the origin of life? Phys Life Rev 2021; 37:65-93. [PMID: 33774429 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2021.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
An interdisciplinary review of the chemical literature that points to a unifying scenario for the origin of life, referred to as the Primordial Multifunctional organic Entity (PriME) scenario, is provided herein. In the PriME scenario it is suggested that the Insoluble Organic Matter (IOM) in carbonaceous chondrites, as well as interplanetary dust particles from meteorites and comets may have played an important role in the three most critical processes involved in the origin of life, namely 1) metabolism, via a) the provision and accumulation of molecules that are the building blocks of life, b) catalysis (e.g., by templation), and c) protection of developing life molecules against radiation by excited state deactivation; 2) compartmentalization, via adsorption of compounds on the exposed organic surfaces in fractured meteorites, and 3) replication, via deaggregation, desorption and related physical phenomena. This scenario is based on the hitherto overlooked structural and physicochemical similarities between the IOM and the dark, insoluble, multifunctional melanin polymers found in bacteria and fungi and associated with the ability of these microorganisms to survive extreme conditions, including ionizing radiation. The underlying conceptual link between these two materials is strengthened by the fact that primary precursors of bacterial and fungal melanins (collectively referred to herein as allomelanins) are hydroxylated aromatic compounds like homogentisic acid and 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene, and that similar hydroxylated aromatic compounds, including hydroxynaphthalenes, figure prominently among possible components of the organic materials on dust grains and ices in the interstellar matter, and may be involved in the formation of IOM in meteorites. Inspired by this rationale, a vis-à-vis review of the properties of IOM from various chondrites and non-nitrogenous allomelanin pigments from bacteria and fungi is provided herein. The unrecognized similarities between these materials may pave the way for a novel scenario at the origin of life, in which IOM-related complex organic polymers delivered to the early Earth are proposed to serve as PriME and were preserved and transformed in those primitive forms of life that shared the ability to synthesize melanin polymers playing an important role in the critical processes underlying the establishment of terrestrial eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco d'Ischia
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Paola Manini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Zita Martins
- Centro de Química Estrutural and Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Laurent Remusat
- Institut de minéralogie, de physique des matériaux et de cosmochimie, UMR CNRS 7590, Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 61 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Conel M O'D Alexander
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, 5241 Broad Branch Road, NW Washington, DC 20015-1305, USA
| | - Cristina Puzzarini
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via F. Selmi 2, Bologna, I-40126, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Barone
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, Pisa, I-56126, Italy
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Biological and Ecological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo, Italy
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29
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Abstract
The evolution of coenzymes, or their impact on the origin of life, is fundamental for understanding our own existence. Having established reasonable hypotheses about the emergence of prebiotic chemical building blocks, which were probably created under palaeogeochemical conditions, and surmising that these smaller compounds must have become integrated to afford complex macromolecules such as RNA, the question of coenzyme origin and its relation to the evolution of functional biochemistry should gain new impetus. Many coenzymes have a simple chemical structure and are often nucleotide-derived, which suggests that they may have coexisted with the emergence of RNA and may have played a pivotal role in early metabolism. Based on current theories of prebiotic evolution, which attempt to explain the emergence of privileged organic building blocks, this Review discusses plausible hypotheses on the prebiotic formation of key elements within selected extant coenzymes. In combination with prebiotic RNA, coenzymes may have dramatically broadened early protometabolic networks and the catalytic scope of RNA during the evolution of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kirschning
- Institut für Organische Chemie und Biomolekulares Wirkstoffzentrum (BMWZ)Leibniz Universität HannoverSchneiderberg 1B30167HannoverGermany
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Bizzarri BM, Saladino R, Delfino I, García-Ruiz JM, Di Mauro E. Prebiotic Organic Chemistry of Formamide and the Origin of Life in Planetary Conditions: What We Know and What Is the Future. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020917. [PMID: 33477625 PMCID: PMC7831497 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of prebiotic chemistry is the depiction of molecular evolution events preceding the emergence of life on Earth or elsewhere in the cosmos. Plausible experimental models require geochemical scenarios and robust chemistry. Today we know that the chemical and physical conditions for life to flourish on Earth were at work much earlier than thought, i.e., earlier than 4.4 billion years ago. In recent years, a geochemical model for the first five hundred million years of the history of our planet has been devised that would work as a cradle for life. Serpentinization processes in the Hadean eon affording self-assembled structures and vesicles provides the link between the catalytic properties of the inorganic environment and the impressive chemical potential of formamide to produce complete panels of organic molecules relevant in pre-genetic and pre-metabolic processes. Based on an interdisciplinary approach, we propose basic transformations connecting geochemistry to the chemistry of formamide, and we hint at the possible extension of this perspective to other worlds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Mattia Bizzarri
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (B.M.B.); (I.D.); (E.D.M.)
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (B.M.B.); (I.D.); (E.D.M.)
- Correspondence: (R.S.); (J.M.G.-R.)
| | - Ines Delfino
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (B.M.B.); (I.D.); (E.D.M.)
| | - Juan Manuel García-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas–Universidad de Granada, Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, 18100 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence: (R.S.); (J.M.G.-R.)
| | - Ernesto Di Mauro
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (B.M.B.); (I.D.); (E.D.M.)
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Mollica Nardo V, Cassone G, Ponterio RC, Saija F, Sponer J, Tommasini M, Trusso S. Electric-Field-Induced Effects on the Dipole Moment and Vibrational Modes of the Centrosymmetric Indigo Molecule. J Phys Chem A 2020; 124:10856-10869. [PMID: 33306380 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.0c09791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Intense static electric fields can strongly perturb chemical bonds and induce frequency shifts of the molecular vibrations in the so-called vibrational Stark effect. Based on a density functional theory (DFT) approach, here, we report a detailed investigation of the influence of oriented external electric fields (OEEFs) on the dipole moment and infrared (IR) spectrum of the nonpolar centrosymmetric indigo molecule. When an OEEF as intense as ∼0.1 V Å-1 is applied, several modifications in the IR spectrum are observed. Besides the notable frequency shift of some modes, we observe the onset of new bands-forbidden by the selection rules in the zero-field case. Such a neat field-induced modification of the vibrational selection rules, and the subsequent variations of the peaks' intensities in the IR spectrum, paves the way toward the design of smart tools employing centrosymmetric molecules as proxies for mapping local electric fields. In fact, here, we show that the ratio between the IR and the Raman intensities of selected modes is proportional to the square of the local field. This indicator can be used to quantitatively measure local fields, not only in condensed matter systems under standard conditions but also in field-emitting-tip apparatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Mollica Nardo
- IPCF-CNR, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cassone
- IPCF-CNR, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Rosina Celeste Ponterio
- IPCF-CNR, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Franz Saija
- IPCF-CNR, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Matteo Tommasini
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ing. Chimica "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Trusso
- IPCF-CNR, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
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32
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Prebiotic chemistry and origins of life research with atomistic computer simulations. Phys Life Rev 2020; 34-35:105-135. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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33
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Kirschning A. The coenzyme/protein pair and the molecular evolution of life. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 38:993-1010. [PMID: 33206101 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00037j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2020What was first? Coenzymes or proteins? These questions are archetypal examples of causal circularity in living systems. Classically, this "chicken-and-egg" problem was discussed for the macromolecules RNA, DNA and proteins. This report focuses on coenzymes and cofactors and discusses the coenzyme/protein pair as another example of causal circularity in life. Reflections on the origin of life and hypotheses on possible prebiotic worlds led to the current notion that RNA was the first macromolecule, long before functional proteins and hence DNA. So these causal circularities of living systems were solved by a time travel into the past. To tackle the "chicken-and-egg" problem of the protein-coenzyme pair, this report addresses this problem by looking for clues (a) in the first hypothetical biotic life forms such as protoviroids and the last unified common ancestor (LUCA) and (b) in considerations and evidence of the possible prebiotic production of amino acids and coenzymes before life arose. According to these considerations, coenzymes and cofactors can be regarded as very old molecular players in the origin and evolution of life, and at least some of them developed independently of α-amino acids, which here are evolutionarily synonymous with proteins. Discussions on "chicken-and-egg" problems open further doors to the understanding of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kirschning
- Institut für Organische Chemie und Zentrum für Biomolekulare Wirkstoffchemie (BMWZ), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Schneiderberg 1B, D-30167 Hannover, Germany.
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Cassone G. Nuclear Quantum Effects Largely Influence Molecular Dissociation and Proton Transfer in Liquid Water under an Electric Field. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:8983-8988. [PMID: 33035059 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c02581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Proton transfer in liquid water controls acid-base chemistry, crucial enzyme reactions, and the functioning of fuel cells. Externally applied static electric fields in water are capable of dissociating molecules and transferring protons across the H-bond network. However, the impact of nuclear quantum effects (NQEs) on these fundamental field-induced phenomena has not yet been reported. By comparing state-of-the-art ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) and path integral AIMD simulations of water under electric fields, I show that quantum delocalization of the proton lowers the molecular ionization threshold to approximately one-third. Moreover, also the water behavior as a protonic semiconductor is considerably modified by the inclusion of NQEs. In fact, when the quantum nature of the nuclei is taken into account, the proton conductivity is ∼50% larger. This work proves that NQEs sizably affect the protolysis phenomenon and proton transfer in room-temperature liquid water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
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35
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kirschning
- Institut für Organische Chemie und Biomolekulares Wirkstoffzentrum (BMWZ) Leibniz Universität Hannover Schneiderberg 1B 30167 Hannover Deutschland
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36
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Pastorek A, Ferus M, Čuba V, Šrámek O, Ivanek O, Civiš S. Primordial Radioactivity and Prebiotic Chemical Evolution: Effect of γ Radiation on Formamide-Based Synthesis. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:8951-8959. [PMID: 32970439 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c05233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although the effect of ionizing radiation on prebiotic chemistry is often overlooked, primordial natural radioactivity might have been an important source of energy for various chemical transformations. Estimates of the abundances of short-lived radionuclides on early Earth suggest that the primordial intensity of endogenous terrestrial radioactivity was up to 4 × 103 times higher than it is today. Therefore, we assume that chemical substances in contact with radioactive rocks should therefore undergo radiolysis. The calculations are followed by research investigating the influence of ionizing γ radiation on basic prebiotic substances, including formamide mixed with various clays, which might have played the role of a catalyst and an agent that partially blocked radiation that was potentially destructive for the products. Our explorations of this effect have shown that the irradiation of formamide-clay mixtures at doses of ∼6 kGy produces significant amounts of urea (up to the maximal concentration of approximately 250 mg L-1), which plays a role in HCN-based prebiotic chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pastorek
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague, Prague 8, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Břehová 78/7, 11519 Prague, Prague 1, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague, Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Čuba
- Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Břehová 78/7, 11519 Prague, Prague 1, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Šrámek
- Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Ivanek
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague, Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague, Prague 8, Czech Republic
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37
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Ghaani MR, English NJ. Kinetic study on electro-nucleation of water in a heterogeneous propane nano-bubble system to form polycrystalline ice I c. J Chem Phys 2020; 153:084501. [PMID: 32872892 DOI: 10.1063/5.0017929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidating the underlying mechanisms of water solidification in heterogeneous systems is crucially important for a panoply of applications; gaining such an understanding has also proven to be very challenging to the community. Indeed, one such example lies in clarifying the thermodynamics and kinetics of electro-crystallization in heterogeneous systems, such as micro- and nano-bubble systems. Here, we employ non-equilibrium molecular dynamics of water in heterogeneous environments experiencing direct contact with a propane gas phase at various temperatures in externally applied static electric fields, elucidating significant external-field effects in inducing poly-crystalline cubic-ice formation. This is in stark contrast with recent work on homogeneous cubic-ice electro-nucleation to produce largely fault-free single crystals. We explore the kinetics of heterogeneous cubic-ice electro-nucleation under different field intensities and thermal conditions and provide an overview of time-dependent dynamics of evolution of polycrystallinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Ghaani
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Niall J English
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Study of Methanol-Water Mixtures under External Electric Fields. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25153371. [PMID: 32722281 PMCID: PMC7435743 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intense electric fields applied on H-bonded systems are able to induce molecular dissociations, proton transfers, and complex chemical reactions. Nevertheless, the effects induced in heterogeneous molecular systems such as methanol-water mixtures are still elusive. Here we report on a series of state-of-the-art ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of liquid methanol-water mixtures at different molar ratios exposed to static electric fields. If, on the one hand, the presence of water increases the proton conductivity of methanol-water mixtures, on the other, it hinders the typical enhancement of the chemical reactivity induced by electric fields. In particular, a sudden increase of the protonic conductivity is recorded when the amount of water exceeds that of methanol in the mixtures, suggesting that important structural changes of the H-bond network occur. By contrast, the field-induced multifaceted chemistry leading to the synthesis of e.g., hydrogen, dimethyl ether, formaldehyde, and methane observed in neat methanol, in 75:25, and equimolar methanol-water mixtures, completely disappears in samples containing an excess of water and in pure water. The presence of water strongly inhibits the chemical reactivity of methanol.
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39
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Ghoshal S, Pramanik A, Sarkar P. Theoretical Investigations on the Possibility of Prebiotic HCN Formation via O-Addition Reactions. J Phys Chem A 2020; 124:4782-4792. [PMID: 32401514 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.0c02538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Until now, reactions between methane photolysis products (CH3•, CH2) and active N atom or reactive NO radical are proposed as routes of HCN formation in the prebiotic Earth. Scientists think that the reducing atmosphere of primitive Earth was made of H2, He, N2, NO, CH4, H2O, CO2, etc., and there was no molecular oxygen. However, it has been evident from experiments that the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photolysis of CO2 can produce atomic oxygen. Therefore, it can be presumed that atomic oxygen was likely present in early Earth's atmosphere. Was there any impact of atomic oxygen in production of early atmospheric HCN for the emergence of life? To hunt for the answer, we have employed computational methods to study the mechanism and kinetics of CH3NO + O(1D) and CH2NO• + O(3P) addition reactions. Current study suggests that the addition of O(1D) into nitrosomethane (CH3NO) and the addition of O(3P) into nitrosomethylene radical (CH2NO•) can efficiently produce HCN through an effectively barrierless pathway. At STP, Bartis-Widom phenomenological loss rate coefficients of O(1D) and O(3P) are obtained as 2.47 × 10-12 and 4.67 × 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively. We propose that addition reactions of atomic oxygen with CH3NO and CH2NO• might act as a potential source for early atmospheric HCN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Ghoshal
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India
| | - Anup Pramanik
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India.,Department of Chemistry, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia-723104, India
| | - Pranab Sarkar
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India
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40
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Pérez-Villa A, Pietrucci F, Saitta AM. Reply to comments on "Prebiotic chemistry and origins of life research with atomistic computer simulations". Phys Life Rev 2020; 34-35:153-155. [PMID: 32482440 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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41
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Dutta Dubey K, Stuyver T, Kalita S, Shaik S. Solvent Organization and Rate Regulation of a Menshutkin Reaction by Oriented External Electric Fields are Revealed by Combined MD and QM/MM Calculations. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:9955-9965. [PMID: 32369357 PMCID: PMC7304904 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b13029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
When and how do external electric fields (EEFs) lead to catalysis in the presence of a (polar or nonpolar) solvent? This is the question that is addressed here using a combination of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical calculations with EEF, and quantum mechanical/(local) electric field calculations. The paper focuses on a model reaction, the Menshutkin reaction between CH3I and pyridine in three solvents of varying polarity. Using MD simulations, we find that the EEF causes the solvent to undergo organization; the solvent molecules gradually align with the applied field as the field strength increases. The collective orientation of the solvent molecules modifies the electrostatic environment around the Menshutkin species and induces a global electric field pointing in the opposite direction of the applied EEF. The combination of these two entangled effects leads to partial or complete screening of the EEF, with the extent of screening being proportional to the polarity/polarizability of the solvent. Nevertheless, we find that catalysis of the Menshutkin reaction inevitably emerges once the EEF exceeds the opposing field of the organizing solvent, i.e., once polarization of the Menshutkin complex is observed to set in. Overall, our analysis provides a lucid and pictorial interpretation of the behavior of solutions in the presence of EEFs and indicates that EEF-mediated catalysis should, in principle, be feasible in bulk setups, especially for nonpolar and mildly polar solvents. By application of the charge-transfer paradigm, it is shown that the emergence of OEEF catalysis in solution can be generalized to other reactions as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kshatresh Dutta Dubey
- Department
of Chemistry & Center for Informatics, Shiv Nadar University, NH91 Tehsil Dadri, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201314, India
| | - Thijs Stuyver
- Institute
of Chemistry, Edmond J. Safra Campus at Givat Ram, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9190400, Israel
- Algemene
Chemie, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Surajit Kalita
- Department
of Chemistry & Center for Informatics, Shiv Nadar University, NH91 Tehsil Dadri, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201314, India
| | - Sason Shaik
- Institute
of Chemistry, Edmond J. Safra Campus at Givat Ram, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9190400, Israel
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Futera Z, Tse JS, English NJ. Possibility of realizing superionic ice VII in external electric fields of planetary bodies. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz2915. [PMID: 32494738 PMCID: PMC7244312 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz2915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In a superionic (SI) ice phase, oxygen atoms remain crystallographically ordered while protons become fully diffusive as a result of intramolecular dissociation. Ice VII's importance as a potential candidate for a SI ice phase has been conjectured from anomalous proton diffusivity data. Theoretical studies indicate possible SI prevalence in large-planet mantles (e.g., Uranus and Neptune) and exoplanets. Here, we realize sustainable SI behavior in ice VII by means of externally applied electric fields, using state-of-the-art nonequilibrium ab initio molecular dynamics to witness at first hand the protons' fluid dance through a dipole-ordered ice VII lattice. We point out the possibility of SI ice VII on Venus, in its strong permanent electric field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdenek Futera
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, Ceske Budejovice 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - John S. Tse
- Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Niall J. English
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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43
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Recent Results on Computational Molecular Modeling of The Origins of Life. FOUNDATIONS OF COMPUTING AND DECISION SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/fcds-2020-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In the last decade of research in the origins of life, there has been an increase in the interest on theoretical molecular modeling methods aimed to improve the accuracy and speed of the algorithms that solve the molecular mechanics and chemical reactions of the matter. Research on the scenarios of prebiotic chemistry has also advanced. The presented work attempts to discuss the latest computational techniques and trends implemented so far. Although it is difficult to cover the full extent of the current publications, we tried to orient the reader into the modern tendencies and challenges faced by those who are in the origins of life field.
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44
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The role of primordial atmosphere composition in organic matter delivery to early Earth. RENDICONTI LINCEI. SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12210-020-00878-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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45
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Paul M, Pathak RK, Pananghat B. Rotatory Response of Molecular Electron Momentum Densities in Linear, Homogeneous Weak Electric Fields: A Topographical Analysis. J Phys Chem A 2020; 124:943-954. [PMID: 31877045 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b11356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
One-electron properties for molecules such as electron density, electrostatic potential (ESP), and electron momentum density (EMD) are experimentally tractable quantities, useful in understanding chemical characteristics. In this work, effects of a uniform homogeneous external electric field on some characteristic one-electron properties of simple molecules are analyzed. EMDs and ESPs were used to understand the response of water, hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide, chloroacetylene, and ammonia in an electric field. Remarkably, the EMD maxima for these molecules get rotated as the electric field strength is varied. A greater order of change in EMD than in ESP with increasing electric field strength brings out the sensitivity of the EMDs, especially for the valence electronic region, which in the momentum space is mapped onto the vicinity of its origin. The eigenvectors of the EMD Hessian maxima at the momentum-space origin are seen to rotate as a function of increasing field strength, with the extra angular momentum imparted by the field manifesting itself as reconfiguration of the EMD distribution. In the presence of the field, valence states may couple with higher electronic states, leading to a mixing of the states resulting in avoided crossings as a function of the field strength. The avoided crossings legitimately estimate maximal field strength limits for the calculation, prior to ionization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mishu Paul
- Department of Chemical Sciences , Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali , Knowledge City, S. A. S. Nagar , Mohali , Punjab 140306 , India
| | - Rajeev K Pathak
- Department of Physics , Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) , Pune 411007 , India
| | - Balanarayan Pananghat
- Department of Chemical Sciences , Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali , Knowledge City, S. A. S. Nagar , Mohali , Punjab 140306 , India
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46
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Hutchings M, Liu J, Qiu Y, Song C, Wang LP. Bond-Order Time Series Analysis for Detecting Reaction Events in Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Theory Comput 2020; 16:1606-1617. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.9b01039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marshall Hutchings
- Department of Chemistry, University of California; 1 Shields Avenue; Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Johnson Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of California; 1 Shields Avenue; Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Yudong Qiu
- Department of Chemistry, University of California; 1 Shields Avenue; Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Chenchen Song
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University; Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Lee-Ping Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California; 1 Shields Avenue; Davis, California 95616, United States
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47
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Saladino R. Computational investigation of the primordial soup: Comment on "Prebiotic chemistry and origin of life research with atomistic computer simulations" by A. Pérez-Villa, F. Pietrucci, and A. M. Saitta. Phys Life Rev 2020; 34-35:149-152. [PMID: 31974057 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2020.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Saladino
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, University of Tuscia, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
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48
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Darla N, Sharma D, Sitha S. Formation of Formamide from HCN + H 2O: A Computational Study on the Roles of a Second H 2O as a Catalyst, as a Spectator, and as a Reactant. J Phys Chem A 2019; 124:165-175. [PMID: 31820987 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b09924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Formamide (NH2CHO), being the smallest and fundamental building block of life (with a peptide linkage), has recently been able to attract much interests, in the field of astrochemistry, astrophysics, and astrobiology. In this work, using quantum mechanical computations, reactions between HCN and H2O, leading to the formation of formamide, have been analyzed. For the first time, an alternative and competing reaction channel, which proceeds via a geminal diol intermediate, for the formation of formamide, has been proposed. In this alternative channel, an extra water molecule (second H2O) was found to be acting as a reactant, in the second step of the reaction path. Effects of second H2O molecule in the reaction paths, providing catalytic assistance to the reaction or behaving like a spectator (concept is introduced for the first time for this reaction), have also been analyzed. Usefulness of spectator behavior is highlighted for the reactions happening on the rigid water-ice surfaces, where the water-ice may not be getting involved for any catalytic assistance. In light of catalytic assistances provided by the second H2O, prominent effects in reducing the barrier heights drastically (even for the second step of the reaction, the barrier height was found to be below the reactants), through a hydrogen relay transport mechanism, were observed. In addition to the mechanism studies, interstellar feasibilities of all the reaction channels and their significances are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagasuneetha Darla
- Department of Chemical Sciences , University of Johannesburg , P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg , South Africa 2006
| | - Divya Sharma
- Department of Chemical Sciences , University of Johannesburg , P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg , South Africa 2006
| | - Sanyasi Sitha
- Department of Chemical Sciences , University of Johannesburg , P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg , South Africa 2006
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Ghoshal S, Pramanik A, Biswas S, Sarkar P. CH 3NO as a potential intermediate for early atmospheric HCN: a quantum chemical insight. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:25126-25138. [PMID: 31691697 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03874d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) has played a central role in the production of several biological molecules under prebiotic conditions on primitive Earth. Previously, K. J. Zahnle (J. Geophys. Res.: Atmos., 1986, 91, 2819) and Tian et al. (Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 2011, 308, 417) emphasized that HCN production in the early Earth's CH4-rich atmosphere could have been possible through the reaction between active nitrogen atoms (N) and methane photolysis products. Here, we have proposed alternative pathways for the formation of early atmospheric HCN via the decomposition of CH3NO as an intermediate. In the early Earth's O2-free atmosphere, CH3˙ could preferentially attach to NO, which was generated via early atmospheric volcanism or lightning and photochemical processes. We have quantum chemically explored both unimolecular and bimolecular decomposition pathways of CH3NO via the assistance of another CH3NO molecule and via H2O, NH3, HCl, HCOOH, HNO3 and H2SO4 catalysis. Both energetic and kinetic analyses reveal that H2SO4 is more efficient in this regard than other atmospheric species. Overall, it has been suggested that the proposed bimolecular decomposition pathways might have been alternative pathways for the formation of HCN under certain conditions on prebiotic Earth, while the unimolecular decomposition of CH3NO could lead to the formation of HCN in the high temperature volcanic environment on early Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Ghoshal
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India.
| | - Anup Pramanik
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India.
| | - Santu Biswas
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India.
| | - Pranab Sarkar
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India.
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Bizzarri BM, Šponer JE, Šponer J, Cassone G, Kapralov M, Timoshenko GN, Krasavin E, Fanelli G, Timperio AM, Di Mauro E, Saladino R. Meteorite‐Assisted Phosphorylation of Adenosine Under Proton Irradiation Conditions. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.201900039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno M. Bizzarri
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo Italy
| | - Judit E. Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Královopolská 135 CZ-61265 Brno Czech Republic
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials Faculty of SciencePalacky University 17 listopadu 771 46 Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Královopolská 135 CZ-61265 Brno Czech Republic
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials Faculty of SciencePalacky University 17 listopadu 771 46 Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Královopolská 135 CZ-61265 Brno Czech Republic
| | - Michail Kapralov
- Joint Institute for Nuclear ResearchJINR's Laboratory of Radiation Biology Dubna Russia
| | - Gennady N. Timoshenko
- Joint Institute for Nuclear ResearchJINR's Laboratory of Radiation Biology Dubna Russia
| | - Eugene Krasavin
- Joint Institute for Nuclear ResearchJINR's Laboratory of Radiation Biology Dubna Russia
| | - Giuseppina Fanelli
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature, and EnergyUniversity of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo Italy
| | - Anna Maria Timperio
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo Italy
| | - Ernesto Di Mauro
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo Italy
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo Italy
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