Synthesis of pyrimidines and triazines in ice: implications for the prebiotic chemistry of nucleobases.

Herein, we report the efficient synthesis of RNA bases and functionalized s-triazines from 0.1 M urea solutions in water after subjection to freeze-thaw cycles for three weeks. The icy solution was under a reductive, methane-based atmosphere, which was subjected to spark discharges as an energy source for the first 72 h of the experiment.