The γ-irradiation of aqueous hydrogen cyanide in the presence of ferrocyanide or ferricyanide: Implications to prebiotic chemistry

The γ-irradiation of 0.1 M, O 2-free, aqueous HCN was studied in the presence of ferrocyanide or ferricyanide in the concentration range 10 −3–10 −5 M. This study was carried out in order to get an insight into the possible role that cyanocomplexes of iron may have played in promoting prebiotic syntheses via the free-radical oligomerization of HCN. It was found that ferrocyanide or ferricyanide have no effect on the irradiation of 0.1 M HCN solutions at concentrations ≤10 −4 M. At high concentrations, 10 −3 M, they lead to a marked decrease in the conversion of HCN. There was no significant difference due to the oxidation state of iron used, particularly at high doses ≥100 kGy.