Thiophosphate - A Versatile Prebiotic Reagent?

Described are our preliminary studies on the reactivity of thiophosphate in a setting which correlates with the cyanosulfidic systems chemistry we have previously reported. Thiophosphate adds to various nitrile groups giving the corresponding thioamides in a highly efficient manner and the mechanistic implications are briefly discussed. Thiophosphate can also act as a phosphorylating agent, which was demonstrated with adenosine. The prebiotic availability of thiophosphate must be questioned, but if a plausible synthesis can be found, the advantages it would bring to the field of prebiotic chemistry appear to be highly beneficial.