Chiral Analysis || Raman Optical Activity

摘要： Raman optical activity (ROA) has many advantages over conventional Raman spectroscopy for investigation of chiral molecules, in general, and biological molecules, in particular, on account of their homochirality. Since it is a manifestation of vibrational optical activity [1], being complementary to vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), ROA is more sensitive to the 3D structures of chiral molecules through its dependence on their absolute handedness, which has led to its development as an incisive probe of the structure and behavior of biomolecules in aqueous solution. For example, ROA spectra obtained from proteins can provide detailed information on the secondary and tertiary structures adopted by polypeptide backbones. Additionally, ROA can probe the tautomers of side chains. In common with other vibrational spectroscopies, there is no restriction on the size of molecules, or in their type, that can be investigated by ROA, broadening its application to unfolded proteins, viruses, and carbohydrates.