Infrared multiple-photon dissociation spectroscopy of cationized glycine: effects of alkali metal cation size on gas-phase conformation.

The gas-phase structures of cationized glycine (Gly), including complexes with Li + , Na + , K + , Rb + , and Cs + , are examined using infrared multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy utilizing light generated by a free electron laser, in conjunction with ab initio calculations. To identify the structures present in the experimental studies, measured IRMPD spectra are compared to spectra calculated at B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) for the Li + , Na + , and K + complexes and at B3LYP/def2TZVP for the Rb + and Cs + complexes. Single-point energy calculations were carried out at the B3LYP, B3P86, and MP2(full) levels using the 6-311+G(2d,2p) basis set for Li + , Na + , K + and the def2TZVPP basis set for Rb + and Cs + . The Li + and Na + complexes are identified as metal cation coordination to the amino nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen, [N,CO]-tt, although Na + (Gly) may have contributions from additional structures. The heavier metal cations coordinate to either the carbonyl oxygen, [CO]-cc, or the carbonyl oxygen and hydroxy oxygen, [CO,OH]-cc, with the former apparently preferred for Rb + and Cs + and the latter for K + . These two structures reside in a double-well potential and different levels of theory predict very different relative stabilities. Some experimental evidence is provided that MP2(full) theory provides the most accurate relative energies.