Formation, stabilization and fate of acetaldehyde and higher aldehydes in an autonomously changing prebiotic system emerging from acetylene

Aldehydes can be formed under extraterrestrial conditions, however, the synthesis of aldehydes on early Earth remains largely unclear. Here, the authors report the formation of acetaldehydes and higher condensation products starting from a gaseous mixture of acetylene and carbon monoxide over nickel sulfide containing water with various pH-values under hydrothermal conditions.