Ammonia from iron(II) reduction of nitrite and the Strecker synthesis: do iron(II) and cyanide interfere with each other?

• Published in: Origins of life and evolution of biospheres 1998-02, Vol.28 (1), p.1-11
• Main Authors: Summers, D. P., Lerner, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acids; Ammonia; Ammonia - chemical synthesis; Chemical synthesis; Cyanides; Exobiology; Ferrous Compounds - chemistry; Formaldehyde - chemistry; Glycine - chemical synthesis; Iron; Nitrites; Nitrites - chemistry; Nitrogen Dioxide - chemistry; Potassium Cyanide - chemistry
• ISSN: 0169-6149; 1573-0875
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1006510326053

The question of whether the production of ammonia, from the reduction of nitrite by iron(II), is compatible with its use in the Strecker synthesis of amino acids, or whether the iron and the cyanide needed for the Strecker synthesis interfere with each other, is addressed. Results show that the presence of iron(II) appears to have little, or no, effect on the Strecker synthesis. The presence of cyanide does interfere with reduction of nitrite, but the reduction proceeds at cyanide/iron ratios of less than 4:1. At ratios of about 2:1 and less there is only a small effect. The reduction of nitrite and the Strecker can be combined to proceed in each other's presence, to yield glycine from a mixture of nitrite, Fe+2, formaldehyde, and cyanide.