Methyleneaminoacetonitrile: possible role in chemical evolution-II.

Methyleneaminoacetonitrile (MAAN) when reacted with other amino acids, gives rise to the formation of peptides in addition to the usual hydrolytic products. It acts as a precursor of glycine and also as a dehydration condensing agent. It has been shown that MAAN is easily formed by the reaction of hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and formaldehyde as well as by the reaction of formaldehyde with aminoacetonitrile, in dilute ammoniacal solution.