Asymmetric autocatalytic Mannich reaction in the presence of water and its implication in prebiotic chemistry

摘要

An enantioselective process in which the chiral Mannich product acts as a catalyst for its own replication was observed to occur under various conditions in the presence of water.rnThe origin of homochirality of biomolecules, such as L-amino acids and D-sugars, remains an intriguing question for scientists. Thus asymmetric autoinductive and autocatalytic reactions may hold significant clues to the generation and propagation of optical activity on Earth. In a catalytic enantioselective autoinductive mechanism the chiral product may participate in a product-catalyst complex that serves as an improved catalyst for the reaction.