Experimental and theoretical investigations of infrared multiple photon dissociation spectra of lysine complexes with Zn2+ and Cd2+

The gas-phase structures of zinc and cadmium complexes of lysine (Lys) are investigated via a combination of infrared multiple photon dissociation action spectroscopy and ab initio quantum chemical calculations. In order to unambiguously identify the experimentally observed species, [Zn(Lys−H)]+ and CdCl+(Lys), the action spectra were compared to linear absorption spectra calculated at the B3LYP level of theory, using 6-311+G(d,p) and def2-TVZP basis sets for the zinc and cadmium systems, respectively. Single point energies were also calculated at the B3LYP, B3P86, MP2, and B3LYP-GD3BJ (accounting for empirical dispersion) levels of theory using larger basis sets. Identification of the experimentally formed isomers is possible through good agreement between infrared multiple photon dissociation action spectra and the theoretically predicted spectra. The [Zn(Lys−H)]+ complex adopts a tridentate orientation involving the amino acid backbone amine and deprotonated carboxylic acid groups as well as the side-chain amine group, [Nα,CO−,Nɛ]. The CdCl+(Lys) complex similarly adopts a tridentate chelation involving the amino acid backbone amine and carbonyl groups, as well as the side-chain amine group, [Nα,CO,Nɛ]. In both cases, the identified complexes are the lowest energy gas-phase structures at all levels of theory.