Terahertz absorption spectra of some saccharides and their metal complexes

In this work, THz absorption spectra of some saccharides and their metal complexes were measured. The main purpose of this work is to investigate the M-O vibrations, intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds and other vibrations in the FIR region using powerful spectroscopic techniques adopting the metal-sugar complexes prepared in our laboratory. The M-O vibrations in the FIR spectra of metal-sugar complexes indicate the formation of metal complexes. The THz spectrum of glucose below 100cm(-1) was measured at first to confirm the THz experimental method. Characteristic absorption bands in the spectra of various samples are observed. THz spectra of saccharides below 100cm(-1) often have several absorption bands, and different saccharides have various absorption peaks in the THz region, which may be used to distinguish different saccharides. The differences in the number of bands observed are related to different structures of the samples, and these absorption bands are related to the collective motion of molecules. But the THz spectra of their metal complexes are different from the ligands, and no band appears in the region below 50cm(-1) at the present experimental condition, which indicates that THz spectroscopy may also be helpful to identify the formation of metal-sugar complexes, and the changes after complexation in the THz spectra below 100cm(-1) may be related to different metal ions. The metal-sugar complexes with similar crystal structures resemble mid-IR spectra, but their THz spectra may have some differences.     

20种α-氨基酸的太赫兹光谱及其分子结构的相关性

应用太赫兹时域光谱(THz-TDS)技术, 在室温下对构成蛋白质的20种基本氨基酸的多晶粉末压片样品进行了光谱测试分析. 结果表明, 所有氨基酸对THz波反应非常灵敏, 在0.2-3.0 THz的有效频谱范围内, 表现出各自特征吸收峰, 故而利用THz光谱可以有效地区别不同种类的氨基酸. 我们以新数据验证和补充了前人的研究结果, 建立了以氨基酸分子结构及其THz光谱特征为基础的分类方案, 讨论并揭示了氨基酸分子的结构差异与其THz吸收光谱之间的相关性. 认知这些相关性将有助于鉴定氨基酸分子, 促进THz光谱学的理论研究以及在生物医学领域的推广应用.     

含硫氨基酸的太赫兹光谱

利用太赫兹时域光谱(THz-TDS)技术研究室温条件下多晶含硫氨基酸L-蛋氨酸(Met)和L-半胱氨酸(Cys)的光谱特性, 得到相应的吸收谱和折射率谱, 表明含硫氨基酸在THz波段具有区别于其它氨基酸的显著特征. 在实验测量的有效光谱范围0.2～2.8 THz内, L-蛋氨酸的THz吸收峰分别位于1.06, 1.88和2.70 THz; L-半胱氨酸的吸收峰分别位于1.40, 1.70, 2.33和2.61 THz, 两种氨基酸的平均折射率均为1.44. 利用GAUSSIAN 03软件包中的Hartree-Fock理论计算了蛋氨酸双分子的低频振动谱, 表明了与蛋氨酸各吸收峰对应的分子微观振动模式, 并对实验光谱进行了解析讨论.     

L-和DL-福多司坦的太赫兹光谱分析

利用太赫兹时域光谱技术(THz-TDS)在室温下对L-福多司坦和DL-福多司坦进行测量,发现L-和DL-福多司坦在THz波段都有特征吸收峰,且两者的吸收谱有明显差异.运用密度泛函理论的B3LYP方法计算了L-和DL-福多司坦在太赫兹波段的吸收谱,并对L-和DL-福多司坦的特征吸收峰进行了指认,理论计算与实验结果基本吻合.此外,还对福多司坦胶囊成品药进行了测量,发现该胶囊的吸收谱与L-福多司坦非常吻合,证明胶囊药的主要成分为L-福多司坦.这项研究对手性物质的检测以及化合物有效成分的鉴别有一定的参考作用.     

Semi-Empirical Model to Retrieve Finite Temperature Terahertz Absorption Spectra using Morse Potential

Terahertz (THz) absorption is a fingerprint property of materials, due to the underlying low-frequency vibration/phonon modes being strongly dependent on the chemical constitutions and microscopic structures. The low excitation energies (0.414-41.4 meV) are related to two intrinsic properties of THz vibrations: the potential energy surfaces (PESs) are shallow, and the vibrationally excited states are usually populated via thermal fluctuations. The shallow PESs make the vibrations usually anharmonic, leading to redshifted vibrational excited state absorption; combined with considerable vibrational excited states population, characteristic THz signals are usually redshifted and congested with varying degrees at different temperatures. Combining existing experimental THz spectra at low temperatures, first principles vibration analysis, and the Morse potential, we developed a semi-empirical model to evaluate the anharmonicity of the low-frequency modes. The model was benchmarked with purine molecular crystal to generate THz spectra at different temperatures, the results were consistent with experiments. The good agreement suggests this model would facilitate the application of THz spectroscopy in molecular crystal characterization.     

Substituent Effects on the Low-Frequency Vibrational Modes of Benzoic Acid and Related Compounds

Well-resolved absorption spectra of benzoic acid and its derivatives with one hydrogen atom replaced by a substituent group CH3, OH, NH2 or NO2 were reported in the frequency region between 6 and 67 cm^-1 at room temperature with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy （THz-TDS）. These substances can be distinguished easily based on the terahertz absorption spectra. The measurements suggested that even minor changes in the molecular configuration and chemical composition lead to distinct differences in THz spectrum. Density functional theory （DFT） method was used to assist the analysis and assignment of the individual THz absorption spectra of benzoic acid and its methyl derivatives. Observed THz responses of samples can be assigned to the collective vibrations associated with intermolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Polarization and temperature dependent spectra of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s measured at terahertz frequencies

Temperature-dependent terahertz (THz) absorption spectra of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs) were measured by using a Fourier transform far-infrared (FT-FIR) spectrometer and a THz time-domain spectrometer over a temperature range of 10 K to 465 K with a liquid helium cryostat and a heating cell. Clear differences were observed between the spectra of crystalline and amorphous polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), indicating that the absorption peaks observed in the THz spectra originated in the higher-order conformation of PHB. The polarization spectra of a stretched PHB sample were measured, and the direction of the vibrational transition moment was determined. The temperature dependences of the spectra reveal frequency shifts and broadening of the absorption peaks with temperature, suggesting large anharmonicity of the vibrational potential. The temperature shift behaviour is quite different in each transition. Some of the transitions show a blue shift, which cannot be explained by a simple anharmonic potential model. Frequency shifts of the peaks were mainly observed below 10 THz, which suggests a large anharmonicity of the vibrational potential at lower frequencies.     

Molecular vibration mode assignment of nematic liquid crystal 5CB on Terahertz spectra

Using DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G** method, the molecular structure and absorption spectra in terahertz (THz) range of liquid crystal 5CB are investigated. In a frequency range 0–15 THz, an assignment of the vibrational modes corresponding to absorption frequencies is performed using potential energy distribution for the first time. It is found that the cyano group radical (–CN) do actively take part in the strongest THz absorption of 1.743, 3.942, 5.169 and 14.769 THz in different vibration modes. The results suggest that the strong polar group should be avoided in designing liquid crystal molecule and mixtures in order to reduce the absorption intensity in THz range.     

胆酸和脱氧胆酸分子的远红外与THz吸收光谱研究

胆酸和脱氧胆酸是胆汁酸中的主要成分, 是人体中重要的生物表面活性剂. 两种分子只相差一个羟基, 在远红外和太赫兹波段有不同的吸收光谱. 胆酸分子的太赫兹(THz)吸收光谱有1.26 THz(42 cm-1)和2.02 THz(67 cm-1)两个吸收峰, 脱氧胆酸分子的THz吸收光谱有1.13, 1.26, 1.69和2.17 THz(即38, 42, 56, 72 cm-1)等几个吸收峰. 两个分子的THz吸收光谱都包含有1.26 THz(42 cm-1) 峰, 反映出二者结构的相似性. 它们的远红外光谱都有部分频率相近的谱带, 但对比之下可以观察到峰位位移和相对峰强的改变. 指认了两种物质的某些可能与羧基振动有关的特征吸收峰. 为找出THz光谱隐含的信息, 利用Omnic程序采用二阶导数方法来处理THz光谱数据, 观察到多个子峰, 说明分子结构中可能存在更复杂的氢键状态. 实验结果表明, 远红外和THz吸收光谱是研究生物分子及鉴别生物分子结构的很好方法.     

Angle-dependent terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of amino acid single crystals

The measurement of absorption spectra using angle-dependent terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy for amino acid single crystals of l-cysteine and l-histidine is reported for the first time. Linearly polarized THz radiation enables us to observe angle-dependent far-infrared absorption spectra of amino acid single crystals and determine the direction of the oscillating dipole of the molecules in the 20-100 cm(-1) range. By comparing the THz spectra of a single crystal and powder, we found that there was a clear hydrogen-bond peak in the crystal spectrum as a result of the larger hydrogen-bond network. The low-temperature THz spectra of amino acid microcrystals showed more intermolecular vibrational modes than those measured at room temperature. An ab initio frequency calculation of a single amino acid molecule was used to predict the intramolecular vibrational modes. The validity of the calculation models was confirmed by comparing the results with experimentally obtained data in the Raman spectral region.     

Low-frequency vibrational modes of dl-homocysteic acid and related compounds

In this paper several polycrystalline molecules with sulfonate groups and some of their metal complexes, including dl-homocysteic acid (DLH) and its Sr- and Cu-complexes, pyridine-3-sulphonic acid and its Co- and Ni-complexes, sulfanilic acid and l-cysteic acid were investigated using THz time-domain methods at room temperature. The results of THz absorption spectra show that the molecules have characteristic bands in the region of 0.2–2.7 THz (6–90 cm⁻¹). THz technique can be used to distinguish different molecules with sulfonate groups and to determine the bonding of metal ions and the changes of hydrogen bond networks. In the THz region DLH has three bands: 1.61, 1.93 and 2.02 THz; and 0.85, 1.23 and 1.73 THz for Sr-DLH complex, 1.94 THz for Cu-DLH complex, respectively. The absorption bands of pyridine-3-sulphonic acid are located at 0.81, 1.66 and 2.34 THz; the bands at 0.96, 1.70 and 2.38 THz for its Co-complex, 0.76, 1.26 and 1.87 THz for its Ni-complex. Sulphanilic acid has three bands: 0.97, 1.46 and 2.05 THz; and the absorption bands of l-cysteic acid are at 0.82, 1.62, 1.87 and 2.07 THz, respectively. The THz absorption spectra after complexation are different from the ligands, which indicate the bonding of metal ions and the changes of hydrogen bond networks. M–O and other vibrations appear in the FIR region for those metal–ligand complexes. The bands in the THz region were assigned to the rocking, torsion, rotation, wagging and other modes of different groups in the molecules. Preliminary assignments of the bands were carried out using Gaussian program calculation.     

Quantification of pharmaceutical polymorphs and prediction of dissolution rate using theophylline tablet by terahertz spectroscopy

Theophylline has an anhydrous form and a monohydrated form, and the dissolution rate of the anhydrous form is higher than that of the monohydrated form. Terahertz (THz) spectra of theophylline tablet containing the theophylline anhydrous form, monohydrated form, microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate exhibited a specific absorption peak at 0.96 THz, where the theophylline anhydrous form demonstrated an absorption peak. Additionally, the intensity of the peak at 0.96 THz gradually decreased as the proportion of the anhydrous form decreased. The multivariate data analysis was performed to correlate the THz spectra of theophylline tablets with the ratio of the theophylline anhydrous form. The calibration model used to predict the mixing ratio of the theophylline anhydrous form from the THz spectra achieved root-mean-squared errors of cross-validation (RMSECV) of 2.89%, a slope of 0.9934 and an R(2) of 0.9927. In addition, there were intentions to develop a prediction model for the dissolution rate of theophylline from the drug product. The dissolution rate of theophylline tablet was gradually delayed as the proportion of the anhydrous form was decreased. The multivariate data analysis was performed to correlate the THz spectra of theophylline tablets with the dissolution rate. The calibration model used to predict the percentage of theophylline dissolved in 45 min from the THz spectra achieved an RMSECV of 3.29%, a slope of 0.9260 and an R(2) of 0.9423. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the predicted and measured percentages of theophylline dissolved in 45 min in the theophylline tablets that were stored at 84% relative humidity (RH) and 25 °C for 12 h or 3 d.     

两种联苯酚类化合物的太赫兹时域光谱研究

利用太赫兹时域光谱技术获得了295 K时2,2′-二羟基联苯(2,2′-biphenol, 2BP)和4,4′-二羟基联苯(4,4′-biphenol, 4BP)在0.1~1.6 THz波段的光谱. 实验结果显示, 两种同分异构体在太赫兹频率范围内的吸收谱有显著的差异. 结合量子化学计算, 2BP中的两个羟基间能够形成分子内氢键, 在1.45 THz的运动模式初步判断为包含氢键在内的两个苯环的低频摆动.     

Far-infrared spectroscopy on free-standing protein films under defined temperature and hydration control

The functionality of proteins is governed by their dynamics. We have performed a systematic investigation on four different proteins in the far-infrared spectral region under control of the two external parameters that have the strongest influence on the dynamics, namely temperature and hydration. The absorption measurements covering the frequency range from 40 cm(-1) to 690 cm(-1) (1-20 THz) close the gap between the well-studied mid-infrared and the recent THz investigations. By preparing the proteins as free-standing films, we achieve unprecedented reproducibility. Besides a featureless slope in the THz range, we can identify absorption peaks characteristic for each protein and others common to several proteins. We fit the spectra to extract the peak positions and suggest assignments for them. The far-infrared absorption spectra of all proteins are basically independent on hydration. By a detailed analysis of the sorption isotherms this can be explained by the low absorption of biological water, which resembles more the behavior of ice than that of liquid water.     

D-、L-和DL-青霉胺的太赫兹时域光谱

利用太赫兹时域光谱技术(THz-TDS)对D-、L-和DL-青霉胺的研究发现, 三种样品在0.2 THz到1.8 THz波段的吸收光谱存在显著差异, 实验结果表明, THz吸收光谱能够鉴别青霉胺对映异构体, 这一特点将可以用于青霉胺药物的检测. 本文利用纯D-、L-青霉胺的THz吸收光谱, 对D-、L-青霉胺混合样品的THz吸收光谱进行拟合, 证明可以用THz光谱定量分析混合样品中D-、L-青霉胺的相对含量. 这项研究为手性药物分子检测和分析提供了新的实验方法, 也对深入了解手性药物与生物靶分子之间相互作用提供了启示.     

Terahertz spectroscopy of enantiopure and racemic polycrystalline valine

Experimental and computational THz (or far-infrared) spectra of polycrystalline valine samples are reported. The experimental spectra have been measured using THz time-domain spectroscopy. Spectra of the pure enantiomers, both D and L, as well as the dl racemate have been taken at room temperature and low temperature (78 K). The spectra of the pure D and L enantiomers are essentially identical, and they are markedly different from the DL racemate. In addition, a temperature-dependent study of L-valine was undertaken in which the absorption maxima were found to red shift as a function of increasing temperature. The vibrational absorption spectra (frequencies and intensities) were calculated using the harmonic approximation with the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) functional, localized atomic orbital basis sets, and periodic boundary conditions. The calculated and experimental spectra are in good qualitative agreement. A general method of quantifying the degree to which a calculated mode is intermolecular versus intramolecular is demonstrated, with the intermolecular motions further separated into translational versus rotational/librational motion. This allows straightforward comparison of spectra calculated using different basis sets or other constraints.     

利用太赫兹时域光谱鉴别爆炸物2,4-DNT和 2,6-DNT

利用太赫兹时域光谱测得了2,4-DNT和 2,6-DNT在0.3-2.0THz频谱范围的吸收谱和折射谱。借助高斯03程序对2,6-DNT进行结构优化和频率计算。2,6-DNT在1.09, 1.36 and 1.55 THz有三个明显吸收并被归因于分子间的相互作用。本文使用太赫兹光谱法对2,4-DNT和 2,6-DNT混合物做了定量分析。分析的结果与实际值基本一致,相对误差约为8%。     

萘醌及其衍生物的太赫兹时域光谱研究

用太赫兹(THz)时域光谱技术研究了室温条件下的萘醌及其衍生物1,2-萘醌、1,2-萘醌-4-磺酸钠、甲萘醌、白花丹素、胡桃醌的光谱特征,得到了各自的吸收谱和折射率。结果表明,萘醌及其衍生物在此波段有不同的吸收特征,利用太赫兹时域光谱能够鉴别分子结构存在微小差别的化合物。在对样品的吸收谱进行比较的基础上,讨论了分子结构和分子间晶格振动与THz光谱特征吸收的关系。     

High-birefringence nematic liquid crystal for broadband THz applications

Liquid crystals (LCs) have been studied extensively in the visible range for their dielectric tunability, and the characterisation in the terahertz (THz) range has gained increasing interest due to the need for active THz modulation and switching devices. In this paper, we use THz time-domain spectroscopy to measure the frequency-dependent birefringence and the absorption coefficient of a number of commercial and non-commercial nematic LCs, including E7, BL037, MDA-98-1602, LCMS-107, GT3-23001 and 1825, over a range of bias voltages at room temperature. Furthermore, several basic components of LC mixture are analysed to establish their contributions to birefringence and theoretical model is used to fit the absorption spectra. The large tunability and low loss measured for a range of samples show that the LCs are useful tunable dielectrics for compact, efficient and broadband THz devices.     

乐果分子的太赫兹时域光谱研究

研究了有机磷农药乐果在0.2~2.5 THz波段的光谱特性。应用密度泛函理论的Becke-3-Lee-Yang-Parr(B3LYP)方法计算了乐果分子在THz波段的振动吸收谱,同时利用THz时域光谱系统(THz-TDS)测得了乐果在此波段的吸收谱和折射率谱。根据理论计算结果,借助于Gaussian View软件对乐果的THz吸收谱进行了指认,并给出了与光谱特征吸收对应的分子振动构象。研究表明:乐果分子在THz波段存在吸收峰,理论计算与实验结果符合较好,且乐果分子在THz波段的吸收是由分子内和分子间振动共同引起。本研究证明了将THz-TDS技术用于乐果分子探测和识别的可行性,为THz时域光谱技术在其它农药分子识别和残留检测中的应用提供了有益的借鉴。