Free radical pathways for the synthesis of xanthine and isoguanine from formamide were studied using density functional theory (B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)). The proposed mechanisms are complex and appropriate for the non-aqueous scenario of prebiotic reactions. Formation of the carbonyl bond in the nucleobases proceeds through enol-keto tautomerization since the direct formation of the C=O bond is a highly endothermic step. The mechanisms show 2-amino-imidazole as a precursor for nucleobases and polyazaporphyrin. The proposed mechanisms contribute to a further understanding of the origin of biomolecules. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.