UV resonance Raman studies of molecular structure and dynamics: applications in physical and biophysical chemistry.

A fundamental understanding of molecular structure and dynamics requires a close coupling between theory and experiment. One ultimate objective is to utilize the understanding of molecular structure and dynamics to predict both molecular properties such as chemical reactivity and bulk properties such as phase behavior and material strengths. Often the major driving force for progress in science is the development of new experimental techniques capable of incisive glimpses into simple phenomena in complex systems. This is especially important for studies of large polyatomic molecules, and is crucial for the macromolecules studied in biology and biochemistry that control life processes. This review outlines the recent progress in the development of UV resonance Raman spectroscopy (UVRR) as a new technique for the study of molecular structure and dynamics for both small molecules and larger molecules such as polypeptides and proteins. This recent work follows the pioneering UV Raman nucleic acid studies in 1975, which used frequency doubled Ar laser excitation at 257 nm (1-4), and Ziegler & Albrecht’s pioneering nitrogen-dye laser preresonance Raman benzene derivative studies, which set the stage for true resonance Raman investigations of benzene derivatives and other aromatics (5-8). This work was followed