The proposed pathways for building block formation in prebiotic chemistry are manifold. Recent advances in the development of modern analytical techniques and methods now allow us to make significant progress in the elucidation and exploration of the origin of life. The aim of this chapter is to give an overview of metal and mineral mediated pathways to complex organic building blocks. The two main focuses will be the role of iron in this context and mineral catalysis in monosaccharide synthesis.
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