Chemical Formation of Methanol and Hydrocarbon ("Organic") Derivatives from CO2 and H2-Carbon Sources for Subsequent Biological Cell Evolution and Life's Origin

George A Olah; Thomas Mathew; G K Surya Prakash

doi:10.1021/jacs.6b10230

Chemical Formation of Methanol and Hydrocarbon ("Organic") Derivatives from CO₂ and H₂-Carbon Sources for Subsequent Biological Cell Evolution and Life's Origin

J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Jan 18;139(2):566-570. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b10230. Epub 2016 Dec 16.

Authors

George A Olah¹, Thomas Mathew¹, G K Surya Prakash¹

Affiliation

¹ Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, United States.

PMID: 27983827
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b10230

Abstract

Formation of methanol and hydrocarbon derivatives from CO₂ and H₂, their simplest molecular building blocks, under biocompatible conditions is proposed. Alternate panspermia of similar extraterrestrially formed and observed hydrocarbons to earth is also discussed. The simple molecular building blocks derived from CO₂ and H₂ are carbon sources in the initial stage of biological evolution of cells leading to life's origin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biological Evolution*
Carbon / chemistry*
Carbon Dioxide / chemistry*
Methanol / chemistry*

Substances

Carbon Dioxide
Carbon
Methanol