Formamide as a prebiotic precursor of DNA nucleobases: The free radical routes

In this review we probe the reaction mechanisms for formation of DNA nucleobases from formamide (FM) following the free radical pathways that have been identified by quantum chemical computations. Formamide is known as a precursor of nucleobases in the prebiotic chemistry of the Early Earth or in the nitrogen-rich atmosphere such as Titan, regardless of whether water is present or absent.