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Ashworth E, Coughlan NJA, Hopkins WS, Bieske EJ, Bull JN. Excited-State Barrier Controls E → Z Photoisomerization in p-Hydroxycinnamate Biochromophores. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:9028-9034. [PMID: 36149746 PMCID: PMC9549896 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c02613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Molecules based on the deprotonated p-hydroxycinnamate moiety are widespread in nature, including serving as UV filters in the leaves of plants and as the biochromophore in photoactive yellow protein. The photophysical behavior of these chromophores is centered around a rapid E → Z photoisomerization by passage through a conical intersection seam. Here, we use photoisomerization and photodissociation action spectroscopies with deprotonated 4-hydroxybenzal acetone (pCK-) to characterize a wavelength-dependent bifurcation between electron autodetachment (spontaneous ejection of an electron from the S1 state because it is situated in the detachment continuum) and E → Z photoisomerization. While autodetachment occurs across the entire S1(ππ*) band (370-480 nm), E → Z photoisomerization occurs only over a blue portion of the band (370-430 nm). No E → Z photoisomerization is observed when the ketone functional group in pCK- is replaced with an ester or carboxylic acid. The wavelength-dependent bifurcation is consistent with potential energy surface calculations showing that a barrier separates the Franck-Condon region from the E → Z isomerizing conical intersection. The barrier height, which is substantially higher in the gas phase than in solution, depends on the functional group and governs whether E → Z photoisomerization occurs more rapidly than autodetachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor
K. Ashworth
- School
of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Neville J. A. Coughlan
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
- WaterMine
Innovation, Inc., Waterloo, Ontario N0B 2T0, Canada
| | - W. Scott Hopkins
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
- WaterMine
Innovation, Inc., Waterloo, Ontario N0B 2T0, Canada
| | - Evan J. Bieske
- School
of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - James N. Bull
- School
of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
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2
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Anstöter CS, Verlet JRR. A Hückel Model for the Excited-State Dynamics of a Protein Chromophore Developed Using Photoelectron Imaging. Acc Chem Res 2022; 55:1205-1213. [PMID: 35172580 PMCID: PMC9084545 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Chemistry can be described as the movement of nuclei within molecules and the concomitant instantaneous change in electronic structure. This idea underpins the central chemical concepts of potential energy surfaces and reaction coordinates. To experimentally capture such chemical change therefore requires methods that can probe both the nuclear and electronic structure simultaneously and on the time scale of atomic motion. In this Account, we show how time-resolved photoelectron imaging can do exactly this and how it can be used to build a detailed and intuitive understanding of the electronic structure and excited-state dynamics of chromophores. The chromophore of the photoactive yellow protein (PYP) is used as a case study. This chromophore contains a para-substituted phenolate anion, where the substituent, R, can be viewed as an acrolein derivative. It is shown that the measured photoelectron angular distribution can be directly related to the electronic structure of the para-substituted phenolate anion. By incrementally considering differing R groups, it is also shown that these photoelectron angular distributions are exquisitely sensitive to the conformational flexibility of R and that when R contains a π-system the excited states of the chromophore can be viewed as a linear combination of the π* molecular orbitals on the phenolate (πPh*) and the R substituent (πR*). Such Hückel treatment shows that the S1 state of the PYP chromophore has predominantly πR* character and that it is essentially the same as the chromophore of the green fluorescent protein (GFP). The S1 excited-state dynamics of the PYP chromophore probed by time-resolved photoelectron imaging clearly reveals both structural (nuclear) dynamics through the energy spectrum and electronic dynamics through the photoelectron angular distributions. Both motions can be accurately assigned using quantum chemical calculations, and these are consistent with the intuitive Hückel treatment presented. The photoactive protein chromophores considered here are examples of where a chemists' intuitive Hückel view for ground-state chemistry appears to be transferable to the prediction of photochemical excited-state reactivity. While elegant and insightful, such models have limitations, including nonadiabatic dynamics, which is present in a related PYP chromophore, where a fraction of the S1 state population forms a nonvalence (dipole-bound) state of the anion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cate S. Anstöter
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Jan R. R. Verlet
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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3
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Wong NGK, Dessent CEH. Illuminating the Effect of the Local Environment on the Performance of Organic Sunscreens: Insights From Laser Spectroscopy of Isolated Molecules and Complexes. Front Chem 2022; 9:812098. [PMID: 35096773 PMCID: PMC8789676 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.812098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sunscreens are essential for protecting the skin from UV radiation, but significant questions remain about the fundamental molecular-level processes by which they operate. In this mini review, we provide an overview of recent advanced laser spectroscopic studies that have probed how the local, chemical environment of an organic sunscreen affects its performance. We highlight experiments where UV laser spectroscopy has been performed on isolated gas-phase sunscreen molecules and complexes. These experiments reveal how pH, alkali metal cation binding, and solvation perturb the geometric and hence electronic structures of sunscreen molecules, and hence their non-radiative decay pathways. A better understanding of how these interactions impact on the performance of individual sunscreens will inform the rational design of future sunscreens and their optimum formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie G K Wong
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom
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4
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Marlton SJP, Trevitt A. Laser Photodissocation, Action Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry Unite to Detect and Separate Isomers. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:9451-9467. [DOI: 10.1039/d2cc02101c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The separation and detection of isomers remains a challenge for many areas of mass spectrometry. This article highlights laser photodissociation and ion mobility strategies that have been deployed to tackle...
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5
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Coughlan NJA, Stockett MH, Kjær C, Ashworth EK, Bulman Page PC, Meech SR, Brøndsted Nielsen S, Blancafort L, Hopkins WS, Bull JN. Action spectroscopy of the isolated red Kaede fluorescent protein chromophore. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:124304. [PMID: 34598549 DOI: 10.1063/5.0063258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Incorporation of fluorescent proteins into biochemical systems has revolutionized the field of bioimaging. In a bottom-up approach, understanding the photophysics of fluorescent proteins requires detailed investigations of the light-absorbing chromophore, which can be achieved by studying the chromophore in isolation. This paper reports a photodissociation action spectroscopy study on the deprotonated anion of the red Kaede fluorescent protein chromophore, demonstrating that at least three isomers-assigned to deprotomers-are generated in the gas phase. Deprotomer-selected action spectra are recorded over the S1 ← S0 band using an instrument with differential mobility spectrometry coupled with photodissociation spectroscopy. The spectrum for the principal phenoxide deprotomer spans the 480-660 nm range with a maximum response at ≈610 nm. The imidazolate deprotomer has a blue-shifted action spectrum with a maximum response at ≈545 nm. The action spectra are consistent with excited state coupled-cluster calculations of excitation wavelengths for the deprotomers. A third gas-phase species with a distinct action spectrum is tentatively assigned to an imidazole tautomer of the principal phenoxide deprotomer. This study highlights the need for isomer-selective methods when studying the photophysics of biochromophores possessing several deprotonation sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neville J A Coughlan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Mark H Stockett
- Department of Physics, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christina Kjær
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
| | - Eleanor K Ashworth
- School of Chemistry, Norwich Research Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Philip C Bulman Page
- School of Chemistry, Norwich Research Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen R Meech
- School of Chemistry, Norwich Research Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lluís Blancafort
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catálisi and Departament de Química, Universitat de Girona, C/M.A. Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - W Scott Hopkins
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - James N Bull
- School of Chemistry, Norwich Research Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
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6
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Wong NK, Rankine CD, Dessent CEH. Measurement of the Population of Electrosprayed Deprotomers of Coumaric Acids Using UV-Vis Laser Photodissociation Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem A 2021; 125:6703-6714. [PMID: 34342453 PMCID: PMC8389988 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c04880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The measurement of deprotonation sites in multifunctional molecules following electrospray ionization is important to better inform a wide range of spectroscopic and photophysical studies that use electrospray to prepare molecular species for study in the gas phase. We demonstrate that low-resolution UV-vis laser photodissociation spectroscopy can be applied in situ to identify the deprotomers of three coumaric acids, trans-para-coumaric acid (CMA), trans-caffeic acid (CA), and trans-ferulic acid (FA), formed via electrospray. Electronic absorption spectra of the deprotonated coumaric acids are recorded via photodepletion and photofragmentation following electrospray from solutions of ethanol and acetonitrile. By comparing the experimental spectra to wave function theory calculations, we are able to confirm the presence of phenoxide and carboxylate deprotomers upon electrospray for all three coumaric acids, when sprayed from both protic and aprotic solvents. Ratios of the phenoxide:carboxylate deprotomers are obtained by generating summed theoretical absorption spectra that reproduce the experimental spectra. We find that choice of electrospray solvent has little effect on the ratio of deprotomers obtained for deprotonated CMA and CA but has a greater impact for FA. Our results are in excellent agreement with previous work conducted on deprotonated CMA using IR spectroscopy and demonstrate that UV photodissociation spectroscopy of electrosprayed ions has potential as a diagnostic tool for identifying deprotomeric species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie
G. K. Wong
- Department
of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, U.K.
| | - Conor D. Rankine
- School
of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle
University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K.
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7
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Kinoshita SN, Harabuchi Y, Inokuchi Y, Maeda S, Ehara M, Yamazaki K, Ebata T. Substitution effect on the nonradiative decay and trans → cis photoisomerization route: a guideline to develop efficient cinnamate-based sunscreens. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:834-845. [PMID: 33284297 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp04402d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Cinnamate derivatives are very useful as UV protectors in nature and as sunscreen reagents in daily life. They convert harmful UV energy to thermal energy through effective nonradiative decay (NRD) including trans → cis photoisomerization. However, the mechanism is not simple because different photoisomeirzation routes have been observed for different substituted cinnamates. Here, we theoretically examined the substitution effects at the phenyl ring of methylcinnamate (MC), a non-substituted cinnamate, on the electronic structure and the NRD route involving trans → cis isomerization based on time-dependent density functional theory. A systematic reaction pathway search using the single-component artificial force-induced reaction method shows that the very efficient photoisomerization route of MC can be essentially described as "1ππ* (trans) → 1nπ* → T1 (3ππ*) → S0 (trans or cis)". We found that for efficient 1ππ* (trans) → 1nπ* internal conversion (IC), MC should have the substituent at the appropriate position of the phenyl ring to stabilize the highest occupied π orbital. Substitution at the para position of MC slightly lowers the 1ππ* state energy and photoisomerization occurs via a slightly less efficient "1ππ* (trans) → 3nπ* → T1 (3ππ*) → S0 (trans or cis)" pathway. Substitution at the meta or ortho positions of MC significantly lowers the 1ππ* state energy so that the energy barrier of IC (1ππ* → 1nπ*) becomes very high. This substitution leads to a much longer 1ππ* state lifetime than that of MC and para-substituted MC, and a change in the dominant photoisomerization route to "1ππ* (trans) → C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond twisting on 1ππ* → S0 (trans or cis)". As a whole, the "1ππ* → 1nπ*" IC observed in MC is the most important initial step for the rapid change of UV energy to thermal energy. We also found that the stabilization of the π orbital (i) minimizes the energy gap between 1ππ* and 1nπ* at the 1ππ* minimum and (ii) makes the 0-0 level of 1ππ* higher than 1nπ* as observed in MC. These MC-like relationships between the 1ππ* and 1nπ* energies should be ideal to maximize the "1ππ* → 1nπ*" IC rate constant according to Marcus theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Nosuke Kinoshita
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan.
| | - Yu Harabuchi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan and Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0021, Japan
| | - Yoshiya Inokuchi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Maeda
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan and Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0021, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ehara
- SOKENDAI, the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan and Institute for Molecular Science and Research Center for Computational Science, 38, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Kaoru Yamazaki
- Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan.
| | - Takayuki Ebata
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan.
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8
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Anstöter CS, Verlet JRR. Photoelectron imaging of the SO 3 anion: vibrational resolution in photoelectron angular distributions*. Mol Phys 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00268976.2020.1821921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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9
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Patel AM, Henley A, Parkes MA, Assmann M, Worth GA, Anderson JC, Fielding HH. Shining light on the electronic structure and relaxation dynamics of the isolated oxyluciferin anion. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:19022-19032. [PMID: 32808948 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp03276j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Firefly bioluminescence is exploited widely in imaging in the biochemical and biomedical sciences; however, our fundamental understanding of the electronic structure and relaxation processes of the oxyluciferin that emits the light is still rudimentary. Here, we employ photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculations to investigate the electronic structure and relaxation of a series of model oxyluciferin anions. We find that changing the deprotonation site has a dramatic influence on the relaxation pathway following photoexcitation of higher lying electronically excited states. The keto form of the oxyluciferin anion is found to undergo internal conversion to the fluorescent S1 state, whereas we find evidence to suggest that the enol and enolate forms undergo internal conversion to a dipole bound state, possibly via the fluorescent S1 state. Partially resolved vibrational structure points towards the involvement of out-of-plane torsional motions in internal conversion to the dipole bound state, emphasising the combined electronic and structural role that the microenvironment plays in controlling the electronic relaxation pathway in the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand M Patel
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, UK.
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10
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Mensa-Bonsu G, Lietard A, Tozer DJ, Verlet JRR. Low energy electron impact resonances of anthracene probed by 2D photoelectron imaging of its radical anion. J Chem Phys 2020; 152:174303. [PMID: 32384861 DOI: 10.1063/5.0007470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Electron-molecule resonances of anthracene were probed by 2D photoelectron imaging of the corresponding radical anion up to 3.7 eV in the continuum. A number of resonances were observed in both the photoelectron spectra and angular distributions, and most resonances showed clear autodetachment dynamics. The resonances were assigned using density functional theory calculations and are consistent with the available literature. Competition between direct and autodetachment, as well as signatures of internal conversion between resonances, was observed for some resonances. For the 12B2g resonance, a small fraction of population recovers the ground electronic state as evidenced by thermionic emission. Recovery of the ground electronic state offers a route of producing anions in an electron-molecule reaction; however, the energy at which this occurs suggests that anthracene anions cannot be formed in the interstellar medium by electron capture through this resonance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golda Mensa-Bonsu
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Aude Lietard
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - David J Tozer
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Jan R R Verlet
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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