New data on abiogenic synthesis of prebiological compounds in volcanic processes.

Volcanoes were deduced to be high-productive generators of complex organic compounds. Ash-gas clouds produced by volcanic eruptions can be considered as many-kilometer chemical reactors with a wide range of temperatures and pressures, powerful electric discharges and a large catalytic surface. In the eruption products investigated, nitrogen-containing components on nucleic acids of uracil type, metal complexes of porphyrins and porphyrins in the metal-free form and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been found. In all, 54 carbon-containing compounds have been identified in the volcanic juvenile ash and in volcanic bombs and 13 groups of carbon-containing compounds whose composition is yet unidentified have been found.