Let's create an alien biosphere!

[MathAndCode]

Would unsaturation change it's reactiveness/energy output?

It would make the carbon chain more reactive, at least once the environment becomes more oxidizing, but it would likely make the isocyanate groups more stable.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

It would make the carbon chain more reactive, at least once the environment becomes more oxidizing, but it would likely make the isocyanate groups more stable.

Even if they started otherwise, I think they would eventually evolve to use the unsaturated version because they environment is becoming more oxidising and I think stability is obviously a good thing. Now on to conjugation.

[MathAndCode]

Even if they started otherwise, I think they would eventually evolve to use the unsaturated version because they environment is becoming more oxidising and I think stability is obviously a good thing. Now on to conjugation.

I think that unsaturated carbon chains would be more prone to oxidation, at least by dioxygen.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

I think that unsaturated carbon chains would be more prone to oxidation, at least by dioxygen.

Wait I got mixed up somehow (I don't know), so forget the first part of the first sentence my earlier post.
Edit: What combination of saturation and conjugation would create the most stable compound? I think they might evolve that.

[MathAndCode]

What combination of saturation and conjugation would create the most stable compound? I think they might evolve that.

I think that a maximally stable compound would have the maximum conjugation possible with its level of unsaturation.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

I think that a maximally stable compound would have the maximum conjugation possible with its level of unsaturation.

How do the two properties affect each other?

[MathAndCode]

How do the two properties affect each other?

Conjugation requires multiple double or triple bonds, and saturation requires only single bonds.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Conjugation requires multiple double or triple bonds, and saturation requires only single bonds.

AFAIK the more saturated they are the more energy they store so I'm taking back what I said about them evolving stable compounds. There's a trade-off between the two (stability and energy). Where might the balance be?

[MathAndCode]

AFAIK the more saturated they are the more energy they store so I'm taking back what I said about them evolving stable compounds.

That's because there are more hydrogen atoms. I think that unsaturated compounds release more energy per oxygen atom that reacts.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

That's because there are more hydrogen atoms. I think that unsaturated compounds release more energy per oxygen atom that reacts.

Really? How does that work?

[MathAndCode]

Really? How does that work?

Carbon prefers to form more single bonds over fewer bonds if some of them are double or triple.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Carbon prefers to form more single bonds over fewer bonds if some of them are double or triple.

So what configuration makes it have a higher energy? Sorry, I've failed to understand.

[MathAndCode]

So what configuration makes it have a higher energy? Sorry, I've failed to understand.

double and triple bonds, especially if they are not conjugated

[Schiaparelliorbust]

double and triple bonds, especially if they are not conjugated

But this decreases stability, right? Then they might put the high-energy section at the tip of the molecule and the rest will be for stability.

[MathAndCode]

But this decreases stability, right? Then they might put the high-energy section at the tip of the molecule and the rest will be for stability.

It needs to be somewhere accessible but not necessarily the tip.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

It needs to be somewhere accessible but not necessarily the tip.

I can only think of branching or maybe putting them on the outside of a curve. Can you think of anything else?

[MathAndCode]

I can only think of branching or maybe putting them on the outside of a curve. Can you think of anything else?

I can see no reason why the functional groups couldn't be removed from the middle of the molecule.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

I can see no reason why the functional groups couldn't be removed from the middle of the molecule.

Which functional groups?

[MathAndCode]

Which functional groups?

isocyanate

[Schiaparelliorbust]

isocyanate

Don't we need that though? Or do you mean move it somewhere else?

[MathAndCode]

Don't we need that though? Or do you mean move it somewhere else?

The organisms would get energy from reacting it, so it would be destroyed.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

The organisms would get energy from reacting it, so it would be destroyed.

I thought you meant removing it altogether. Where do you want to put the saturated bits?

[MathAndCode]

I thought you meant removing it altogether. Where do you want to put the saturated bits?

I think that the part that doesn't have isocyanate groups can be saturate without any detriments.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

I think that the part that doesn't have isocyanate groups can be saturate without any detriments.

Good then. Anything else we should figure out?

[MathAndCode]

Good then. Anything else we should figure out?

We should figure out whether or not they can develop photosynthesis.