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Molecular and Enantiomeric Analysis of Organic Compounds in Carbonaceous MeteoritesCarbonaceous meteorites are relatively enriched in carbon. Much of this carbon is in the form of soluble organic compounds. The Murchison and Murray meteorites are the best-characterized carbonaceous meteorites with respect to organic chemistry. Their content of organic compounds has led to an initial understanding of early solar system organic chemistry as well as what compounds may have played a role in the origin of life (Cronin and Chang, 1993). Reported compounds include: amino acids, amides, carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, and polyols. This talk will focus on the molecular and enantiomeric analysis of individual meteoritic compounds: polyol acids; and a newly identified class of meteorite compounds, keto acids, i.e., acetoacetic acid, levulinic acid, etc. Keto acids (including pyruvic) are critically important in all contemporary organisms. They are key intermediates in metabolism and processes such as the citric acid cycle. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry we identified individual meteoritic keto acids after derivatization to one or more of the following forms: isopropyl ester (ISP), trimethyIsiIy1 (TMS), tert-butyldimethylsilyl (BDMS). Ongoing analyses will determine if, in addition to certain amino acids from Murchison (Cronin and Pizzarello, 1997), other potentially important prebiotic compounds also contain enantiomeric excesses, i.e., excesses that could have contributed to the current homochirality of life.
Document ID
20040013256
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Cooper, George
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
October 2, 2003
Subject Category
Inorganic, Organic And Physical Chemistry
Meeting Information
Meeting: 38th Western Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society
Location: Long Beach, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: October 15, 2003
End Date: October 18, 2003
Sponsors: American Chemical Society
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 344-58-12-15
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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