2,6-Diaminopurine-zinc complex for primordial carbon dioxide fixation

In this article, we report the ability of 2,6-diaminopurine for primordial activation of atmospheric carbon dioxide as confirmed by crystallographic analysis of three model ligands and their complexes. Interestingly, the carbonate-containing complex undergoes autonomous self-organization to afford hollow spherical enclosures, without any external modifier. Such lipid-free structures present an intriguing possibility of purine-only, protocell-like morphologies, which could have supported relevant prebiotic reactions for evolution. [Display omitted] Primordial carbon dioxide fixation to yield value-added anionic products necessitates transition metal catalysis, supported on mineral surfaces. In this context, purines and their metabolites have been implicated as crucial ligands for metal ion coordination and catalysis for primitive chemical reactions. Herein, we report the ability of 2,6-diaminopurine for primordial activation of atmospheric carbon dioxide as confirmed by crystallographic analysis of three model ligands and their complexes. Interestingly, the carbonate-containing complex undergoes autonomous self-organization to afford hollow spherical enclosures, without any external modifier.