We investigated the characteristics of the thiocyanate (SCN) functional group as a probe of local structural dynamics for 2D-IR spectroscopy of proteins, exploiting the dependence of vibrational frequency on the environment of the label. Steady-state and time-resolved infrared spectroscopy are performed on the model compound methylthiocyanate (MeSCN) in solvents of different polarity, and compared to data obtained on SCN as a local probe introduced as cyanylated cysteine in the protein bovine hemoglobin. The vibrational lifetime of the protein label is determined to be 37 ps, and its anharmonicity is observed to be lower than that of the model compound (which itself exhibits solvent-independent anharmonicity). The vibrational lifetime of MeSCN generally correlates with the solvent polarity, i.e. longer lifetimes in less polar solvents, with the longest lifetime being 158 ps. However, the capacity of the solvent to form hydrogen bonds complicates this simplified picture. The long lifetime of the SCN vibration is in contrast to commonly used azide labels or isotopically-labeled amide I and better suited to monitor structural rearrangements by 2D-IR spectroscopy. We present time-dependent 2D-IR data on the labeled protein which reveal an initially inhomogeneous structure around the CN oscillator. The distribution becomes homogeneous after 5 picoseconds so that spectral diffusion has effectively erased the 'memory' of the CN stretching frequency. Therefore, the 2D-IR data of the label incorporated in hemoglobin demonstrate how SCN can be utilized to sense rearrangements in the local structure on a picosecond timescale.

Vibrationally resolved electronic absorption spectra including the effect of vibrational pre-excitation are computed in order to interpret and predict vibronic transitions that are probed in the Vibrationally Promoted Electronic Resonance (VIPER) experiment [L. J. G. W. van Wilderen et al., Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 53, 2667 (2014)]. To this end, we employ time-independent and time-dependent methods based on the evaluation of Franck-Condon overlap integrals and Fourier transformation of time-domain wavepacket autocorrelation functions, respectively. The time-independent approach uses a generalized version of the FCclasses method [F. Santoro et al., J. Chem. Phys. 126, 084509 (2007)]. In the time-dependent approach, autocorrelation functions are obtained by wavepacket propagation and by the evaluation of analytic expressions, within the harmonic approximation including Duschinsky rotation effects. For several medium-sized polyatomic systems, it is shown that selective pre-excitation of particular vibrational modes leads to a redshift of the low-frequency edge of the electronic absorption spectrum, which is a prerequisite for the VIPER experiment. This effect is typically most pronounced upon excitation of modes that are significantly displaced during the electronic transition, such as ring distortion modes within an aromatic π-system. Theoretical predictions as to which modes show the strongest VIPER effect are found to be in excellent agreement with experiment.

Combined spectroscopic and computational studies elucidate excited-state photocleavage in DEACM cages, explaining vastly different time scales for different leaving groups.

The light-induced ultrafast uncaging process of the [7-(diethylamino)coumarin-4-yl]methyl (DEACM) cage is measured by time-resolved visible-pump-infrared-probe spectroscopy, and supported by steady-state absorption spectroscopy in the visible and infrared spectral regions. Understanding the uncaging process is important because its favorable properties make DEACM an interesting case for chemical and biological applications. It has a convenient absorption in the visible spectral range, and is relatively easily modified to carry leaving groups (LGs) such as nucleotides, substrates or inhibitors, which are inactive when bound and active when released. Previous work suggested a lower limit for the uncaging rate, which places it among the fastest available cages. Here, we determine the photodissociation directly to occur on the picosecond time scale by monitoring the appearance of the released LG in the infrared spectral region. In the present study, azide (N) is chosen as an LG to monitor photodissociation because its vibrational mode is spectrally isolated (hence easy to follow) and its absorption wavenumber is sensitive to local structural rearrangements. The uncaging process is recorded up to 3 nanoseconds and compared to the collected steady-state spectra. The free LG appears on a picosecond time scale, rendering this one of the fastest known cages. No evidence is found for a tight-ion pair (TIP) preceding the free LG. The uncaging mechanism is found to be slowed down upon the addition of water to acetonitrile.

It is a photochemist's dream to be able to photoinduce a reaction of a specific molecular species in an ensemble of similar but not identical ones. The problem is that similar molecules often exhibit nearly identical UV-Vis absorption spectra, making them difficult or impossible to distinguish or to select spectroscopically. The ultrafast VIPER (VIbrationally Promoted Electronic Resonance) pulse sequence allows to pick a single species for electronic excitation based on its infrared spectrum. The latter usually shows more features, allowing the discrimination between species than the UV-Vis spectrum. Here, we show that it is possible to induce and monitor species-selective photochemistry even for molecules with virtually identical UV-Vis spectra, which is the case for isotopomers. Next to isotope-selective photochemistry in solution, applications to orthogonal photo-uncaging and species-selective spectroscopy and photochemistry in mixtures are within reach.