Synthesis of hydrocarbons under presumed prebiotic conditions using high-frequency discharge.

Various hydrocarbons were synthesized by high-frequency discharge in a primordial terrestrial model atmosphere. The products were extracted by benzene or methanol and analyzed by GC-MS. The mean carbon chain length of the hydrocarbons formed by the discharge through pure CH4 gas was less than 6. Benzene was also obtained. Some isomers were obtained for each of the hydrocarbons containing a given number of carbons. When a small amount of C2H2 was added to the CH4, longer chain compounds were formed, as compared with discharge in CH4 only. However, when the amount of C2H2 was increased, unextractable high molecular weight compounds were produced. The amounts of products decreased as the mixing ratio of CO2 to CH4 increased. No hydrocarbons were detected when the ratio of CO2/CH4 exceeded 1.