Abstract: The prebiotic formation and persistence of carbohydrates remain central challenges in origin-of-life chemistry owing to their instability and structural diversity in aqueous environments. Among potential stabilizing agents, boron species—primarily boric acid and borate—exhibit a unique capacity to form reversible, stereoselective complexes with cis-diol-containing molecules, including sugars and low-molecular-weight polyols. Here we examine the coordination chemistry of boron–diol interactions and explore their implications for prebiotic chemical evolution. By preferentially stabilizing specific sugar configurations, particularly furanose forms, boron may bias the composition of prebiotic mixtures, acting as a primitive chemical “editor.” These dynamic interactions—encompassing mono- and diester formation, as well as higher-order assemblies—are modulated by environmental factors such as pH and evaporative concentration. We propose that boron-mediated complexation constitutes a form of thermodynamic selection that enriches biologically relevant carbohydrates, including ribose, while disfavoring less stable isomers.

Cite: Dembitsky V.M. , Terent’ev A.O.
Boron as a chemical editor: dynamic selection of sugars in prebiotic environments.
PTOLEMY JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY. 2026. V.6. N2. P.1-7. DOI: 10.30538/psrp-jc2026.0029

Dates:

Submitted:	Jul 7, 2026
Accepted:	Jul 21, 2026
Published online:	Jul 23, 2026

Identifiers: No identifiers

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