Vacuum-ultraviolet electronic circular dichroism study of methyl α-D-glucopyranoside in aqueous solution by time-dependent density functional theory

J Phys Chem A. 2012 Oct 11;116(40):9996-10003. doi: 10.1021/jp306914s. Epub 2012 Sep 27.

Abstract

The vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectrum of methyl α-D-glucopyranoside (methyl α-D-Glc) was measured down to 163 nm in aqueous solution using a synchrotron-radiation VUV-ECD spectrophotometer. The spectrum exhibited two characteristic ECD peaks around 170 nm, which depend on the trans (T) and gauche (G) configurations of the hydroxymethyl group at C-5. To elucidate the influences of the T and G configurations on the spectrum, the ECD spectra of three rotamers (α-GT, α-GG, and α-TG) of methyl α-D-Glc were calculated using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) combined with molecular dynamics simulation. A linear combination of the ECD spectra of these three rotamers, which differ markedly from each other, produced a methyl α-D-Glc spectrum similar to that observed experimentally. The spectrum was assignable to the n-σ* transitions of the ring oxygen and methoxy oxygen with minor contributions from the hydroxyl oxygen. The differences in α-GT, α-GG, and α-TG spectra were attributed to fluctuations of the configurations of the hydroxymethyl group at C-5 and the hydroxyl group at C-4, which strongly affected the orientations of intramolecular hydrogen bonds around the ring oxygen. These findings demonstrate that combining VUV-ECD and TDDFT is useful for structural characterization of saccharides in aqueous solution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Circular Dichroism
  • Electrons
  • Methylglucosides / chemistry*
  • Quantum Theory*
  • Solutions
  • Time Factors
  • Ultraviolet Rays*
  • Vacuum
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Methylglucosides
  • Solutions
  • Water
  • methylglucoside