Self-Replication by Condensation of 3-Aminobenzamidines and 2-Formylphenoxyacetic Acids

Indications for exponential autocatalysis in a small self‐replicating chemical system are found for the first time in the synthesis of 3 from 1 and 2. In other words, the higher the concentration of 3 in the initial reaction mixture, the faster its formation. The anils 3 are self‐complementary and accelerate their own synthesis by a factor of 16 M−1/2 to 370 M−1. R1 = Me, tBu; R2 = H, NO2.