Raman spectra of chlorophyll forms

The Raman spectra of chlorophyll a (Chl) forms in aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)—water mixtures were recorded at 457.9 nm excitation and their structures were characterized by comparison with the spectra of the following well-known chlorophyll forms: (1) monomers (Chl)₁ in the polar solvents of group (A), i.e., diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, N,N-dimethylformamide and DMSO, of which the oxygen atom is expected to coordinate to the central magnesium atom; (2) monomers (Chl)₁ in the polar solvents of group (B), i.e., methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol and 1-butanol, which are supposed to form a hydrogen-bond to the C₉=O group in addition to the coordination-bond to the Mg atom; (3) dehydrated aggregates (Chl)_n in dry non-polar solvents, i.e., carbon tetrachloride, n-hexane and n-octane; and (4) hydrated aggregates (Chl·2H₂O)_n in wet non-polar solvents, i.e., n-hexane and n-octane. The frequency of the C₉ = O stretching Raman line of each of the above chlorophyll forms was: (1) 1702—1680 cm⁻¹; (2) 1673—1668 cm⁻¹; (3) around 1655 cm⁻¹; (4) around 1645 cm⁻¹. The frequency proved to be a marker of intermolecular interaction of the Chl molecules. The spectral patterns in the 1650—700 cm⁻¹ region of (1), (2) and (3) were similar. However, the relative intensities of Raman lines of (4), which was ascribed to a one-dimensional, regular stacking of the Chl macrocycles, were quite different from those of (1)—(3).The chlorophyll form in PVA aqueous solution was identified as (Chl·2H₂O)_n by spectral comparison. The chlorophyll forms present in the DMSO—water mixtures were highly dependent on the DMSO content. It is suggested that (Chl)₁ having hydrogen-bonded H₂O should be present in 10% DMSO solution, and that a new chlorophyll form (Chl·DMSO)_n having (a) a stoichiometric intermolecular interaction with DMSO and (b) a regular stacking of the chlorophyll macrocycles, should be predominant in 50% DMSO aqueous solution.