Organic matter in carbonaceous chondrites can be separated into three
fractions. The first component, the fraction that is insoluble in chlo
roform and methanol, has a part which is of interstellar origin(1). Th
e other two fractions (chloroform-soluble hydrocarbons and methanol-so
luble polar organics) are hypothesized to have been synthesized on a p
lanetoid body (2). We propose that the polar organics, i.e., amino aci
ds, were synthesized close to its surface by the radiolysis of hydroca
rbons and ammonium carbonate in a liquid water environment. Some hydro
carbons may have been synthesized by a Fischer-Tropsch mechanism (3) i
n the interior of the body. Ferrous ion acted as a protection against
back reactions. The simultaneous synthesis of iron-rich clays with the
polar organics may be indicative of events related to the origin of l
ife on Earth.