Formation of Organic Compounds 



87 



The pressures of hydrogerij methane, and ammonia were lo, 20 and 20 cm 

 of Hg, respectively. During a run the water was boiled and the spark operated 

 continuously. Colloidal sihca, originating from the action of ammonia on glass, 

 formed in the boihng flask during the run together with a yellow polymer. The 

 yellow polymers have a strong ultraviolet absorption but no peaks above 230 m/x. 

 The non-dialysable compounds were hydrolysed and chromatographed. Only a 

 very small amoimt of amino acid was present in this fraction. 



A red colour was formed with the spark discharge in some of the experiments. 

 The synthesis of the colour seems to depend on the presence of trace metals. 

 The colour is an organic compound and has absorption maxima at 390 and 

 540 m/i. It is not a porphyrin. 



Analysis of Products 



Analysis of the gases remaining at the end of a run showed carbon monoxide, 

 carbon dioxide and nitrogen present in addition to the initial gases. The organic 

 compounds were separated into acidic, basic, and ampholytic fractions by 

 various ion-exchange resins. The different acids were separated by chromato- 

 graphy on silica [8] and the amino acids by chromatography on Dowex 50 [9]. 

 The compounds were identified by Rp values on ion-exchange resins, silica, and 

 on paper. Some of the compounds were further characterized by preparation 

 of derivatives and comparing the melting point and mixed melting point with 

 an authentic sample of the derivative. 



Table 2 

 Yields of compounds (moles X lo^) 



* Percent yield of glycine, based on carbon placed in the apparatus as methane. 



