Small molecules as catalysts

Think about the origin of life. The earliest life, by necessity, use small molecules as catalysts.

This year’s Nobel prize in chemistry goes to two researchers who pioneered the idea of using small molecules as catalysts.

If we think from the perspective of early life, this idea is very natural. I wonder if the current works on small molecule catalysts might help study the problem of creating life from the scratch.

Following are two links. One is the introduction of the work of this year’s Nobel winners. The other is a short note I wrote several years ago about the properties of the earliest life.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 - Popular information

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331558461_What_are_the_most_essential_properties_of_life