Formation of adenine from CH3COONH4/NH4HCO3—the probable prebiotic route for adenine

Adenine was formed when an aqueous solution of CH3COONH4/NH4HCO3 was subjected to mass spectrometer/refluxed for 72 h/heated in a closed vessel for a long time. Since these salts are sources of CO2 and NH3 and H2O is available from the reaction medium, adenine might get formed by the combination of CO2, H2O and NH3. The occurrence of this reaction in the gas phase as well as in the aqueous phase points towards the possibility of similar reactions during the primitive earth conditions.