Effect of H2S on the formation of organic compounds from C, N,H, S model atmospheres submitted to a glow discharge

Abstract

H2S has been often invoked as the initial source of sulfur in prebiotic evolution, and several sulfur-containing compounds have been proposed as intermediates in the primordial synthesis of biologically relevant sulfur-containing chemicals. The possibilities of synthesis of the principal key intermediates by glow discharges in CH4-N2-H2S mixtures is studied. It is shown that synthesis of important intermediates such as HCN, (CN)2, CHCCN and CH3SH is possible from such mixtures if the amount of H2S is not more than 10%. For higher amounts of H2S, the syntheses are strongly inhibited.