[1,2-13C2]glycolaldehyde (CAS 478529-69-0)

[1,2-13C2]Glycolaldehyde, a diastereomerically enriched form of the simplest possible aldose and a key intermediate in prebiotic chemistry, is labeled with carbon-13 at both the first and second carbon atoms, enhancing its utility in research through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This isotopic labeling allows for the detailed tracing of glycolaldehyde′s transformation and incorporation into more complex organic compounds, making it invaluable in studies of the formose reaction—where formaldehyde and other simple sugars polymerize to form more complex carbohydrates. This reaction is fundamental in understanding the abiotic synthesis of sugars under prebiotic conditions, which is crucial for theories related to the origins of life on Earth. Additionally, [1,2-13C2]glycolaldehyde has been utilized in astrochemistry to simulate and study the chemical conditions of interstellar and circumstellar media where molecules like it are thought to play a role in the chemical evolution leading to the formation of biologically relevant molecules. By observing how glycolaldehyde interacts and combines with other molecules under simulated cosmic conditions, researchers can infer the chemical pathways that might lead to the formation of key building blocks for life in the universe, thus bridging molecular astronomy and experimental astrobiology.