# Effect of High Pressure on the Molecular Structure andπ-Electrons Delocalization of Canthaxanthin as Revealed by Raman Spectra

Authors: Shun-li Ou-Yang; Nan-nan Wu; Yan-jie Tian
Journal: Journal of Spectroscopy
 (2015)

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## Abstract

The effect of high pressure on the molecular structure andπ-electron delocalization of canthaxanthin was studied by in situ resonance Raman spectroscopy. Changes in the characteristic band frequency and the pressure of canthaxanthin were described. The effect of pressure on π-electron delocalization was also discussed. Results show that the characteristic bands of canthaxanthin increase and reach high wavenumbers. The correlations between Raman frequency of the three main bands and pressure are listed as follows: ν1(C=C) = 3.43P + 1512.3, ν2(C-C) = 3.29P + 1156.1, and ν3(CH3) = 2.16P + 1006.3. The frequency multiplication of canthaxanthin changes as pressure is altered. The pressure effect on the ν1(C=C) mode is more susceptible than on the ν2(C-C) mode, which can be explained by the fact that the β-ring twists to a larger angle from the plane of the conjugated main chain under high pressure, leading to a lower degree of the π-electrons delocalization. The Raman spectra are recovered after the compression-decompression cycle indicating the canthaxanthin has no evident phase change under our experimental conditions.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Conjugated polyenes are essential photoelectric materials widely applied in physics (nonlinear optical materials), chemistry (molecular optoelectronic devices), and biology (photosynthesis and nanomaterials) [1–7]. These applications are based on the unique molecular structure of conjugated polyenes [8]. Therefore, the molecular structure and the characteristics of conjugated polyenes have been extensively studied [9, 10]. As an example of conjugated polyenes, canthaxanthin is a linear polyene chain molecule, in which the main chain consists of nine conjugated double bonds (Figure 1).Figure 1
Chemical structure of canthaxanthin.In nature, the interaction between canthaxanthin and biological macromolecules can change the molecular structure and the electronic state of canthaxanthin [11]. At high pressure, this interaction leads to changes in force constant of molecular bonds, thereby altering molecular structures and electron orbits. These changes are similar to natural changes occurring in canthaxanthin.Raman spectroscopy, equipped with a diamond anvil cell (DAC) as a high-pressure apparatus, is a powerful tool to investigate the modifications in molecular arrangements and the changes in electron orbits. For instance, Liu et al. applied high-pressure Raman spectroscopy to investigate the changes in characteristic peaks of fundamental frequency as pressure increases from 0 GPa to 5 GPa [12]; on the basis of experimental results, Liu et al. proposed a competition mechanism model and used density function to analyze the effect of β-ring twisted on both ends of β-carotene in the Raman spectra [13]. Further, in our studies, Raman spectroscopy has been applied to investigate β-carotene under high pressure [14]. Likewise, we used a high-pressure DAC and a confocal microscope equipped with Raman spectrometer in our study to systematically investigate the structure of canthaxanthin. This study specifically aimed (1) to obtainin situ high-pressure Raman spectra of this polyene at pressure ranging from normal to 10.39 GPa, (2) to investigate the fundamental frequency observed in the Raman spectra of canthaxanthin, (3) to analyze the Raman spectra of frequency multiplication, and (4) to determine the influence of high pressure on molecular structure and π-electrons delocalization.


## 2. Experimental

Canthaxanthin was purchased from Sigma, stored at −18°C in the dark, and used without further purification. Canthaxanthin was diluted by the ternary system (Methanol/Ethanol/Water,VMethanol : VEthanol : VWater = 16 : 3 : 1) at concentration 4.2 × 10−4 M. The pressure apparatus used in this experiment is a Mao-Bell diamond anvil cell (DAC) with two diamonds of 0.5 mm culet size. The liquid sample with a small ruby chip (about 0.1 mm) was loaded in a 0.24 mm hole drilled in a 0.25 mm thick T301 steel gasket. The pressure calibration was carried out using the Ruby fluorescence.The micro Raman spectrometer (Renishaw InVia Raman microscope) equipped with 514.5 nm argon ion (Ar+) excitation laser (Spectra Physics 163-M142) was used to obtain Raman spectra. Thus, in the present study, we investigate canthaxanthin by means of resonance Raman spectroscopy. The 50x objective was used for both laser illumination and Raman backscattering detection. The excitation power of 6.8 mW and exposure time (CCD integration time) 12 s were used to collect all Raman spectra. The resolution of the system was 1.4 cm−1. The experiment was performed at room temperature in a dark room.


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. The Resonance Raman Spectrum of Canthaxanthin at Normal Pressure and Assignments

Figure2 shows the resonance Raman spectrum of canthaxanthin at normal pressure. The Raman spectrum of canthaxanthin is divided into two major parts. The three main bands are found from 950 cm−1 to 1650 cm−1, and these bands can be assigned to the C=C in-phase stretching, the C-C stretching, and the methyl in-phase rocking mode, respectively. The corresponding spectral bands are located at 1515, 1155, and 1005 cm−1 and are called the ν1, ν2, and ν3 bands in Figure 2. The Raman spectrum corresponds to the frequency multiplication of the three main bands from 2000 cm−1 to 3100 cm−1 [15].Figure 2
Resonance Raman spectrum of canthaxanthin at normal pressure.


### 3.2. Raman Spectra of Canthaxanthin under High Pressure

Figure3 shows the resonance Raman spectra of canthaxanthin from 950 cm−1 to 1650 cm−1 at different pressures and at room temperature. To simplify our data, we did not indicate the Raman spectra between 1250 and 1475 cm−1 where the Raman band of diamond is unnecessary. The three main bands of canthaxanthin shift gradually toward high frequencies with increasing pressure. It could be explained by the structural distortion of the π-electrons delocalization. Additionally, the broadening of the three main bands with a loss of intensity was also observed. The broader bandwidth of the three main bands was in accordance with general rules [12, 16]. When the molecule is compressed, the increased force constant leads to a decreased vibrational cycle. Therefore, the phenomenon resulted from the shorter vibrational relaxation time under high pressure.Figure 3
Resonance Raman spectra of canthaxanthin at different pressure in the spectral range of 950 cm−1 to 1650 cm−1.In order to systematically study the effect of pressure, the changes of theν1, ν2, and ν3 frequencies are plotted versus pressure in Figure 4. Thus, regression fitting to ν1(C=C), ν2(C-C), and ν3(CH3) and pressure was conducted, and fitting linear functions are expressed as follows:(1)ν1C=C=3.43P+1512.3R2=0.98,ν2C-C=3.29P+1156.1R2=0.99,ν3CH3=2.16P+1006.3R2=0.99.Figure 4
Pressure dependence of (a)ν1, (b) ν2, and (c) ν3 frequencies of canthaxanthin.
(a)
(b)
(c)These equations suggest that the three main bands of canthaxanthin exhibit good linear relation with pressure.The same as the case ofβ-carotene [14], the rate of increase of the ν1(C=C) frequency is faster than that of the ν2(C-C) frequency for canthaxanthin. This intriguing phenomenon was analyzed in the next subsection. The ν1(C=C) frequency of canthaxanthin increases slower than that of β-carotene, while the ν2(C-C) frequency of canthaxanthin increases faster than that of β-carotene. Under the same experimental conditions, we can therefore deduce the different behavior of the CC stretching frequency for the two studied carotenoids due to their different chemical structures. Being nonpolar, β-carotene is randomly distributed in solution resulting in glassy matrix [17] under high pressure. Polar canthaxanthin, which has two carbonyl groups in both rings, may adopt some well-defined preferred orientations [18] forming crystalline-like matrix under high pressure.Figure5 shows the resonance Raman spectra of the frequency multiplication of canthaxanthin at different pressures. Compared with Figure 3, which shows the Raman spectra of the fundamental frequency of canthaxanthin, Figure 5 shows that the patterns of changes in fundamental frequency and frequency multiplication of canthaxanthin under high pressure are consistent. With increasing pressure, the five Raman bands shift to high frequencies, and the broadening of the bands with a loss of intensity. It could be seen from Figure 6 that the rate of increase of the overtone 2ν1 frequency is faster than that of another frequency multiplication as pressure increases.Figure 5
Raman spectra of canthaxanthin at different pressure in the spectral range 2100−3200 cm−1.Figure 6
Pressure-induced Raman shift of various modes of canthaxanthin in the spectral region of 2100 cm−1 to 3200 cm−1.


### 3.3. Effect of High Pressure on the Molecular Structure andπ-Electron Delocalization of Canthaxanthin

Canthaxanthin is a conjugated molecule; furthermore,π-electrons delocalization affects molecular structure, free radical spin, electronic excitation state, nonlinear optics, and physicochemical properties of canthaxanthin. As such, the influence of high pressure on molecular structure and π-electrons delocalization of canthaxanthin was analyzed. Figure 4 shows that the slope for the ν1 is larger than ν2, which indicates that the pressure effect on the C=C stretching vibration is more sensitive than that on the C-C stretching vibration. However, this is inconsistent with the general idea that the C=C bonds are compressed more hardly than C-C bonds. This can be explained by taking account of the structural distortion of the π-electrons delocalization. It is well-known that the ν1 frequency in polyene can be used to monitor the degree of π-electrons delocalization/conjugation through the π-electron system [19]. The C=C stretching vibration frequency is decreased by the increased conjugation length of polyene, because, with the increase of the conjugation length, the π-electrons delocalization tends to equalize the CC bond lengths. Accordingly, for the distorted canthaxanthin, which has a relatively shorter conjugation length of the conjugated chain, the frequency of the ν1 band shifts to high frequency. Therefore, our experimental result obtained with canthaxanthin is a downward shift of the ν1 frequency under our experimental condition, and this means that the degree of π-electrons delocalization/conjugation through the π-electron system is changed for the distortion of molecular configuration.


### 3.4. Phase Change in Canthaxanthin under High Pressure

The resonance Raman spectra are recovered after the compression-decompression cycle. This indicated that canthaxanthin does not undergo irreversible modifications under our experimental condition, that is, pressure below 10.39 GP and 514.5 nm excitation. Therefore, canthaxanthin has no evident phase change in the specified pressure range used in this study.


## 3.1. The Resonance Raman Spectrum of Canthaxanthin at Normal Pressure and Assignments

Figure2 shows the resonance Raman spectrum of canthaxanthin at normal pressure. The Raman spectrum of canthaxanthin is divided into two major parts. The three main bands are found from 950 cm−1 to 1650 cm−1, and these bands can be assigned to the C=C in-phase stretching, the C-C stretching, and the methyl in-phase rocking mode, respectively. The corresponding spectral bands are located at 1515, 1155, and 1005 cm−1 and are called the ν1, ν2, and ν3 bands in Figure 2. The Raman spectrum corresponds to the frequency multiplication of the three main bands from 2000 cm−1 to 3100 cm−1 [15].Figure 2
Resonance Raman spectrum of canthaxanthin at normal pressure.


## 3.2. Raman Spectra of Canthaxanthin under High Pressure

Figure3 shows the resonance Raman spectra of canthaxanthin from 950 cm−1 to 1650 cm−1 at different pressures and at room temperature. To simplify our data, we did not indicate the Raman spectra between 1250 and 1475 cm−1 where the Raman band of diamond is unnecessary. The three main bands of canthaxanthin shift gradually toward high frequencies with increasing pressure. It could be explained by the structural distortion of the π-electrons delocalization. Additionally, the broadening of the three main bands with a loss of intensity was also observed. The broader bandwidth of the three main bands was in accordance with general rules [12, 16]. When the molecule is compressed, the increased force constant leads to a decreased vibrational cycle. Therefore, the phenomenon resulted from the shorter vibrational relaxation time under high pressure.Figure 3
Resonance Raman spectra of canthaxanthin at different pressure in the spectral range of 950 cm−1 to 1650 cm−1.In order to systematically study the effect of pressure, the changes of theν1, ν2, and ν3 frequencies are plotted versus pressure in Figure 4. Thus, regression fitting to ν1(C=C), ν2(C-C), and ν3(CH3) and pressure was conducted, and fitting linear functions are expressed as follows:(1)ν1C=C=3.43P+1512.3R2=0.98,ν2C-C=3.29P+1156.1R2=0.99,ν3CH3=2.16P+1006.3R2=0.99.Figure 4
Pressure dependence of (a)ν1, (b) ν2, and (c) ν3 frequencies of canthaxanthin.
(a)
(b)
(c)These equations suggest that the three main bands of canthaxanthin exhibit good linear relation with pressure.The same as the case ofβ-carotene [14], the rate of increase of the ν1(C=C) frequency is faster than that of the ν2(C-C) frequency for canthaxanthin. This intriguing phenomenon was analyzed in the next subsection. The ν1(C=C) frequency of canthaxanthin increases slower than that of β-carotene, while the ν2(C-C) frequency of canthaxanthin increases faster than that of β-carotene. Under the same experimental conditions, we can therefore deduce the different behavior of the CC stretching frequency for the two studied carotenoids due to their different chemical structures. Being nonpolar, β-carotene is randomly distributed in solution resulting in glassy matrix [17] under high pressure. Polar canthaxanthin, which has two carbonyl groups in both rings, may adopt some well-defined preferred orientations [18] forming crystalline-like matrix under high pressure.Figure5 shows the resonance Raman spectra of the frequency multiplication of canthaxanthin at different pressures. Compared with Figure 3, which shows the Raman spectra of the fundamental frequency of canthaxanthin, Figure 5 shows that the patterns of changes in fundamental frequency and frequency multiplication of canthaxanthin under high pressure are consistent. With increasing pressure, the five Raman bands shift to high frequencies, and the broadening of the bands with a loss of intensity. It could be seen from Figure 6 that the rate of increase of the overtone 2ν1 frequency is faster than that of another frequency multiplication as pressure increases.Figure 5
Raman spectra of canthaxanthin at different pressure in the spectral range 2100−3200 cm−1.Figure 6
Pressure-induced Raman shift of various modes of canthaxanthin in the spectral region of 2100 cm−1 to 3200 cm−1.


## 3.3. Effect of High Pressure on the Molecular Structure andπ-Electron Delocalization of Canthaxanthin

Canthaxanthin is a conjugated molecule; furthermore,π-electrons delocalization affects molecular structure, free radical spin, electronic excitation state, nonlinear optics, and physicochemical properties of canthaxanthin. As such, the influence of high pressure on molecular structure and π-electrons delocalization of canthaxanthin was analyzed. Figure 4 shows that the slope for the ν1 is larger than ν2, which indicates that the pressure effect on the C=C stretching vibration is more sensitive than that on the C-C stretching vibration. However, this is inconsistent with the general idea that the C=C bonds are compressed more hardly than C-C bonds. This can be explained by taking account of the structural distortion of the π-electrons delocalization. It is well-known that the ν1 frequency in polyene can be used to monitor the degree of π-electrons delocalization/conjugation through the π-electron system [19]. The C=C stretching vibration frequency is decreased by the increased conjugation length of polyene, because, with the increase of the conjugation length, the π-electrons delocalization tends to equalize the CC bond lengths. Accordingly, for the distorted canthaxanthin, which has a relatively shorter conjugation length of the conjugated chain, the frequency of the ν1 band shifts to high frequency. Therefore, our experimental result obtained with canthaxanthin is a downward shift of the ν1 frequency under our experimental condition, and this means that the degree of π-electrons delocalization/conjugation through the π-electron system is changed for the distortion of molecular configuration.


## 3.4. Phase Change in Canthaxanthin under High Pressure

The resonance Raman spectra are recovered after the compression-decompression cycle. This indicated that canthaxanthin does not undergo irreversible modifications under our experimental condition, that is, pressure below 10.39 GP and 514.5 nm excitation. Therefore, canthaxanthin has no evident phase change in the specified pressure range used in this study.


## 4. Conclusion

In this study,in situhigh-pressure Raman spectroscopy was applied to obtain the resonance Raman spectra of canthaxanthin. At room temperature, all of the Raman bands of canthaxanthin increase and reach a high wavenumber without undergoing a phase change as pressure increases from normal to 10.39 GPa. The results showed that the degree of the π-electrons delocalization in canthaxanthin molecule is weakened under high pressure. Therefore, this study provides an experimental basis of the photoelectric mechanism of canthaxanthin in photoelectric devices.



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