Structural and spectroscopic study of a pectin isolated from citrus peel by using FTIR and FT-Raman spectra and DFT calculations

Abstract

In this work, pectin isolated from citrus peel with a degree of esterification of 76% was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Fourier Transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopies. Structural studies were carried out taking into account their partial degree of esterification and considering the polygalacturonic acid chain as formed by two different subunits, one with both COOH and COOCH3 groups (Ac) and the other one as constituted by two subunits with two COOCH3 groups (Es). Their structural properties, harmonic frequencies, force fields and force constants in gas and aqueous solution phases were calculated by using the hybrid B3LYP/6-31G∗ method. Then, their complete vibrational analyses were performed by using the IR and Raman spectra accomplished with the scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) methodology. Reactivities and behaviors in both media were predicted for Ac and Es by using natural bond orbital (NBO), atoms in molecules (AIM), and frontier orbitals calculations. We report for first time the complete assignments of those two different units of polygalacturonic acid chain which are the 132 normal vibration modes of Ac and the 141 normal vibration modes of Es, combining the normal internal coordinates with the SQM methodology. In addition, three subunits were also studied. Reasonable correlations between the experimental and theoretical spectra were obtained. Thus, this work would allow the quick identification of pectin by using infrared and Raman spectroscopies and also provides new insight into the interactions that exist between subunits of a large pectin chain.