Journal Article

PUBDB-2025-01764

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Photoelectron circular dichroism of aqueous-phase alanine

Stemer, D. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Thuermer, S. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Trinter, F.Extern*XFEL.EU* ; Hergenhahn, U.Extern* ; Pugini, M. ; Credidio, B.Extern* ; Malerz, S.Extern* ; Wilkinson, I.Extern* ; Nahon, L.Extern* ; Meijer, G.Extern* ; Powis, I.Extern* ; Winter, B. (Corresponding author)Extern*

2025
RSC Cambridge

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1039/D5SC00167F  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2025-01764

Abstract: Amino acids and other small chiral molecules play key roles in biochemistry. However, in order to understand how these molecules behave in vivo, it is necessary to study them under aqueous-phase conditions. Photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) has emerged as an extremely sensitive probe of chiral molecules, but its suitability for application to aqueous solutions had not yet been proven. Here, we report on our PECD measurements of aqueous-phase alanine, the simplest chiral amino acid. We demonstrate that the PECD response of alanine in water is different for each of alanine's carbon atoms, and is sensitive to molecular structure changes (protonation states) related to the solution pH. For C 1s photoionization of alanine's carboxylic acid group, we report PECD of comparable magnitude to that observed in valence-band photoelectron spectroscopy of gas-phase alanine. We identify key differences between PECD experiments from liquids and gases, discuss how PECD may provide information regarding solution-specific phenomena — for example the nature and chirality of the solvation shell surrounding chiral molecules in water — and highlight liquid-phase PECD as a powerful new tool for the study of aqueous-phase chiral molecules of biological relevance.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. DOOR-User (DOOR ; HAS-User)
2. PETRA-S (FS-PETRA-S)

Research Program(s):

1. 631 - Matter – Dynamics, Mechanisms and Control (POF4-631) (POF4-631)
2. 6G3 - PETRA III (DESY) (POF4-6G3) (POF4-6G3)
3. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)509471550 - Dynamik photoionisations-induzierter Prozesse in laser-präparierten Molekülen in der Gasphase und der wässrigen Phase (509471550) (509471550)
4. AQUACHIRAL - Chiral aqueous-phase chemistry (883759) (883759)
5. FS-Proposal: II-20180012 (II-20180012) (II-20180012)
6. FS-Proposal: I-20200682 (I-20200682) (I-20200682)
7. FS-Proposal: I-20211126 (I-20211126) (I-20211126)
8. FS-Proposal: I-20230378 (I-20230378) (I-20230378)

Experiment(s):

1. PETRA Beamline P04 (PETRA III)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Chemical Reactions ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DOAJ Seal ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; Index Chemicus ; JCR ; National-Konsortium ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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