Proton Transfer of Guanine Radical Cations Studied by Time-Resolved Resonance Raman Spectroscopy Combined with Pulse Radiolysis

The oxidation of guanine (G) is studied by using transient absorption and time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopies combined with pulse radiolysis. The transient absorption spectral change demonstrates that the neutral radical of G (G(•)(-H(+))), generated by the deprotonation of G radical cation (G(•+)), is rapidly converted to other G radical species. The formation of this species shows the pH dependence, suggesting that it is the G radical cation (G(•+))' formed from the protonation at the N7 of G(•)(-H(+)). On one hand, most Raman bands of (G(•+))' are up-shifted relative to those of G, indicating the increase in the bonding order of pyrimidine (Pyr) and imidazole rings. The (G(•+))' exhibits the characteristic CO stretching mode at ∼1266 cm(-1) corresponding to a C-O single bond, indicating that the unpaired electron in (G(•+))' is localized on the oxygen of the Pyr ring.