We are also interested in the characterization of the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of metallotetrapyrroles and other transition metal complexes and in the elucidation of the molecular structure and organization of monolayer assemblies of partially oriented systems. The investigative strategy common to all of our work is the implementation of a variety of techniques in order to provide a broad base of information that can be used to characterize the physical properties of the systems thoroughly and rigorously. These techniques include resonance Raman, infrared, absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies as well as electrochemical methods. Certain of these studies involve wild-type as well as genetically modified proteins.
Photosynthetic proteins convert light into chemical energy in certain bacteria and higher plants.
We are conducting vibrational studies on reaction centers from various bacteria, including Rb. I and II core complexes from higher plants. All of these studies involve wild-type as well as genetically modified proteins. Electronic interactions between porphyrinic p systems in close proximity play a pivotal role in such diverse systems as photosynthetic proteins, artificial light-harvesting systems, and organic conductors. We are examining a variety of synthetic stacked and bridged dimeric, trimeric and multimeric porphyrinic arrays using optical, vibrational, and magnetic spectroscopies.