In this project of the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program in the Chemistry Division, Prof. D.H. Levy of the Chemistry Department of the University of Chicago will conduct a series of investigations on the photochemistry of molecules and weakly bound molecular complexes of biochemical interest. Studies of van der Waals systems involving complexes of amino tetrazine, proton transfer reactions in organic dimers, and investigations of porphyrin dimers will be undertaken. The structures of amino acids and peptides in the gaseous phase, the charge and energy transfer in bi-chromophoric molecules, and laser desorption of fragile organic molecules will be investigated by spectroscopic techniques. The underlying goal of this research program is to obtain a better understanding of the properties of large biomolcules. The relationship between the structure and function of biomolcules is to be determined through the spectroscopic investigations of simple amino acids, peptides and other building blocks of the larger biomolecular complexes. Not only the structures, but also the rate at which protons can transfer from one molecule to another, as well as the rate at which electric charge and energy move or are localized within a complex are also important for this understanding . Special techniques are being developed to vaporize weakly bound biomolecular complexes without at the same time dissociating them into their component molecules.
