This study investigates the formation of carbohydrates through mechanochemical reactions in a primordial geochemical setting. The formose reaction, a multi-step process forming sugars from formaldehyde and glycolaldehyde, is known to be susceptible to side reactions in aqueous solutions. The research demonstrates that mechanochemical formose reactions, using various minerals as catalysts, efficiently produce monosaccharides with minimal side products, irrespective of atmospheric conditions. This finding supports the hypothesis of prebiotic sugar formation on early Earth and extra-terrestrial settings, potentially explaining the presence of sugars in meteorites.

Maren Haas, Saskia Lamour, Sarah Babette Christ, Oliver Trapp