AMINO-ACID SYNTHESIS FROM AN AMORPHOUS SUBSTANCE COMPOSED OF CARBON, NITROGEN, AND OXYGEN

Hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, and ammonia are considered important i ntermediates in amino acid synthesis by electric discharge. In this st udy, however, amino acid precursors were synthesized from a CO-N-2 mix ture free of hydrogen atoms. An amorphous film composed of carbon, nit rogen, and oxygen was given from a highly activated plasma. When expos ed to atmospheric moisture, this film incorporated hydrogen atoms to y ield amino acid. This is a mechanism for amino acid synthesis without involving hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, and ammonia. (C) 1998 Americ an Institute of Physics.