Mixed-valence hydroxides as bioorganic host minerals.

A range of naturally occurring divalent-trivalent metal cation hydroxides and modified artificial analogs have been synthesized and characterized. Structural and chemical properties of these minerals, determining their capability to selectively concentrate, order and alter molecules of prebiotic interest, include their anion exchange capacity and specificity, photochemical reactivity, production of nascent hydrogen, and catalytic efficiency. Properties relevant to these functions have been investigated and are discussed.