Abstract
The FeS/FeS2 redox system, whose importance is stressed in recent theories on the origin of life, has been tested experimentally. In this paper it is demonstrated by thermodynamical calculations as well as by experiments, that cyclohexanone, which served as model compound, can be reduced by the aforementioned redox system. Reactions were carried out in methanol and DMF at 25 °C and at 100 °C. Besides products that were synthesised in both solvents, like cyclohexanethiol and dicyclohexyldisulphide, special compounds were obtained in methanol and in DMF, because of the involvement of the respective solvent in the reaction. Yields of reduced compounds were lower in methanol owing to a compound that hindered the reduction (cyclohexylketal). With increasing temperature and duration the amount of reduced compoinds increased. Further experiments have shown that 1,1-cyclohexanedithiol is likely to be a necessary intermediate for the reduced products. The experiments give evidence to the ‘pyrite hypothesis’, which postulates that the FeS/FeS2 redox system was of importance for the origin of life.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bard, A. J., Parsons, R. and Jordan, J.: 1985.Standard Potentials in Aqueous Solution, Marcel Dekker, New York.
Barnes, I. and O'Neil, J. R.: 1969, ‘The Relationship Between Fluids in some Fresh Alpone-type Ultramafics and Possible Modern Serpentinization, Western United States’,Geol. Soc. America Bull. 80, 1947–1960.
Cairns, T. L., Evans, A. W., Larchar, A. W. and McKusick, B. C.: 1952, ‘Gem-Dithiols’,J. Am. Chem. Soc. 74, 3982–3989.
Cairns-Smith, A. G., Hall, A. J. and Russell, M. J.: 1992, ‘Mineral Theories of the Origin of Life and an Iron Sulphide Example’,Origins Life Evol. Biosphere 22, 161–180.
Drobner, E., Huber, H., Wächtershäuser, G., Rose, D. and Stetter, K.: 1990, ‘Pyrite Formation Linked with Hydrogen Evolution under Anaerobic Conditions’,Nature 346, 742–744.
Dupont Durst, H. and Gokel, G. W.: 1987,Experimental Organic Chemistry, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Ettre, L. S. and Zlatkis, A.: 1967,The Practise of Gas Chromatography, Wiley & Sons, New York.
Fukunaga, K. and Yamaguchie, H.: 1981, ‘Debromination of Vicdibromides with Sodium Sulfide in Dimethylformamide’,Synthesis 879–881.
Hartman, W. W. and Silloway, H. C.: 1955, ‘2-Amino-nitrophenol’,Organic Synthesis, Coll. Vol.3, 82–84.
Kasting, J. F. and Ackerman, T. P.: 1986, ‘Climatic Consequences of Very High Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Earth's early Atmosphere’,Science 234, 1383–1385.
Larter, R. C. L., Boyce, A. J. and Russell, M. J.: 1981, ‘Hydrothermal Pyrite Chimneys from the Ballynoe Baryte Deposit, Silvermines, Country Tipperary, Ireland’,Mineral. Deposita 16, 309–318.
Mayer, R., Hiller., Nietzschke, M. and Jentzsch, J.: 1963, „Die Basenkatalysierte Umsetzung von Ketonen mit Schwefelwasserstoff“,Angewandte Chemie 75, 1011–1014.
Mayer, R., Morgenstern, J. and Fabian, J.: 1964, „Aliphatische Thioketone“,Angewandte Chemie 76, 157–196.
Neal, C. van Stanger, G.: 1984, ‘Calcium and Magnesium Hydroxide Precipitation from Alkaline Groundwater in Oman, and Their Significance to the Process of Serpentinization ’,Mineral. Mag. 48, 237–241.
Russell, M. J.: 1983, ‘Major Sediment-Hosted Exhalative Zinc + Lead Deposits: Formation from Hydrothermal Convection Cells that Deepen During Crustal Extension’,Mineral. Assoc. Canada, Short Course Handbook9, 251–282.
Russell, M. J., Hall, A. J., Cairns-Smith, A. G. and Braterman, P. S.: 1988, ‘Submarine Hot Springs and the Origin of Life,Nature 336, 117.
Russell, M. J., Hall, A. J. and Turner, D.: 1989, ‘In vitro Growth of Iron Sulphide Chimneys: Possible Culture Chambers for Origin-of-Life Experiments’,terra Nova 1, 238–241.
Russell, M. J. and Daniel, R. M.: 1992, ‘Emergence of Life via Catalytic Hydrothermal Colloidal Iron Sulphide Membranes (abstr.)’,Annales Geophysicae, supplement III,10, 506.
Siskin, M. and Katritzky, A. R.: 1991, ‘Reactivity of Organic Compounds in Hot Water: Geochemical and Technological Implications’,Science 254, 231–237.
Taylor, P., Rummery, T. E. and Owen, D. G.: 1979, ‘Reactions of Iron Monosulphide Solid with Aqueous Hydrogen Sulphide up to 160 °C’J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem. 41, 1683–1687.
Wächtershäuser, G.: 1988a, ‘Pyrite Formation, the First Energy Source for Life: A Hypothesis’,System. Appl. Microbiol. 10, 207–210.
Wächtershäuser, G.: 1988b, ‘Before Enzymes and Templates: Theory of Surface Metabolism’,Microbiol. Rev. 52, 452–484.
Wächtershäuser, G.: 1988c, Deutsches Patentamt, Offenlegungsschrift DE 3812158A1.
Walker, J. C. G..: 1986, ‘Carbon Dioxide on the Early Earth’,Origins Life Evol. Biosphere 16, 117–127.
Weast, R. C.: 1984,Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 65th edition, CRC Press, Florida.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kaschke, M., Russell, M.J. & Cole, W.J. [FeS/FeS2]. A redox system for the origin of life. Origins Life Evol Biosphere 24, 43–56 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01582038
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01582038