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Formaldehyde (HCHO) can capture enediol(ate)s before they react to give complex mixtures of unproductive species. However, at high concentrations, HCHO disproportionates in a bimolecular Cannizzaro reaction to yield unproductive methanol and formate. Both problems can be mitigated if an organic mineral can be found that slowly bleeds HCHO into a prebiotic reaction mixture.
