Abstract
How simple chemical reactions self-assembled into complex, robust networks at the origin of life is unknown. This general problem-self-assembly of dissipative molecular networks-is also important in understanding the growth of complexity from simplicity in molecular and biomolecular systems. Here, we describe how heterogeneity in the composition of a small network of oscillatory organic reactions can sustain (rather than stop) these oscillations, when homogeneity in their composition does not. Specifically, multiple reactants in an amide-forming network sustain oscillation when the environment (here, the space velocity) changes, while homogeneous networks-those with fewer reactants-do not. Remarkably, a mixture of two reactants of different structure-neither of which produces oscillations individually-oscillates when combined. These results demonstrate that molecular heterogeneity present in mixtures of reactants can promote rather than suppress complex behaviors.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 8289-8295 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of the American Chemical Society |
Volume | 141 |
Issue number | 20 |
Early online date | 30 Apr 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 22 May 2019 |
Funding
We thank Dr. Dmitry Zubarev for assistance on earlier versions of this manuscript. This work was supported by an award (290364) from the Simons Foundations. A.S.Y.W. is supported by funding from The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO, Rubicon program, project no. 019.172EN.017). L.B. acknowledges fellowship support from NSERC Canada.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Catalysis
- General Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry