PREBIOTIC CHEMISTRY OF PHOSPHONIC-ACIDS - PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM PHOSPHONOACETALDEHYDE IN THE PRESENCE OF FORMALDEHYDE

Phosphonoacetaldehyde (PAL), a phosphonic acid analogue of glycolaldeh yde phosphate, reacts in the presence of formaldehyde under mildly bas ic conditions to produce several new products. The reaction proceeds i n two stages: a fast aldol condensation of formaldehyde with PAL, and a slower reaction to produce products containing two phosphonic acid g roups. We report on the derivatization, isolation by means of HPLC and characterization of these compounds. One of the products is of potent ial interest as a building block for a prebiotic informational polymer .