The focus of this research is the role of clay mineral surfaces in the synthesis of oligomeric molecules relevant to the origin of life. Specific goals include the development of regiospecific syntheses of oligoribonucleotides in aqueous solution without using blocking groups to help understand how the olignucleotides required for the "RNA World" first formed. Template directed syntheses of oligomers of A and G will be studied using U and C oligomers respectively, formed by montmorillonite catalysis, and will be carried out in the solution phase and on mineral surfaces. An investigation of the effect of different phosphorus activating groups on oligomer formation will utilize 2-aminobenzimidazole and 4-aminopyridine groups. The elongation of oligomers, 10 mers to 50 mers, will be studied in which the incorporated pyrophosphate groupings will be utilized as sites of ligation. The role of mineral catalysis of the ligation reaction will be investigated. %%% With this Renewal Award, the Synthetic Organic Program is supporting the research of Dr. James P. Ferris of the Department of Chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Professor Ferris will focus his work on the study of the role of clay minerals in the synthesis of oligomeric molecules relevant to the origin of life. In doing so, he will develop new synthetic approaches to the preparation of olignucleotides and gain understanding how the oligonucleotides required for the "RNA World" first formed. These studies in prebiotic chemistry are of intrinsic general interest to all segments of society.
