Oligomerization of glycine and alanine on metal(II) octacynaomolybdate(IV): role of double metal cyanides in prebiotic chemistry.

Condensation reactions of amino acid (glycine and alanine) on the surface of metal(II) octacyanomolybdate(IV) (MOCMo) complexes are investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electron spray ionizations-mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS). The series of MOCMo have been synthesized and the effect of outer sphere metal ions present in the MOCMo on the oligomerization of glycine and alanine at different temperature and time found out. Formation of peptides was observed to start after 7 days at 60 °C. Maximum yield of peptides was found after 35 days at 90 °C. It has been found that zinc(II) octacyanomolybdate(IV) and cobalt(II) were the most effective metal cations present in outer sphere of the MOCMo for the production of high yield of oligomerized products. Surface area of MOCMo seems to play dominating parameter for the oligomerization of alanine and glycine. The results of the present study reveal the role of MOCMo in chemical evolution for the oligomerization of biomolecules.