Resonance Raman Intensities Demonstrate that C5 Substituents Affect the Initial Excited-State Structural Dynamics of Uracil More than C6 Substituents.

Resonance Raman derived initial excited-state structural dynamics provide insight into the photochemical mechanisms of pyrimidine nucleobases, in which the photochemistry appears to be dictated by the C5 and C6 substituents. The absorption and resonance Raman spectra and excitation profiles of 5,6-dideuterouracil were measured to further test this photochemical dependence on the C5 and C6 substituents. The resulting set of excited-state reorganization energies of the observed internal coordinates were calculated and compared to those of other 5- and 6-substituted uracils.

Initial excited-state structural dynamics of 6-substituted uracil derivatives: femtosecond angle and bond lengthening dynamics in pyrimidine nucleobase photochemistry.

Substituents on the pyrimidine ring of nucleobases appear to play a major role in determining their initial excited-state structural dynamics and resulting photochemistry. To better understand the determinants of nucleobase initial excited-state structural dynamics, we have measured the absorption and resonance Raman excitation profiles of 6-deuterouracil (6-d-U) and 6-methyluracil (6-MeU). Simulation of the resonance Raman excitation profiles and absorption spectrum with a self-consistent, time-dependent formalism shows the effect of the deuterium and methyl group on the photochemically active internal coordinates, i.