High-resolution Laser Spectroscopic Studies Of Urocanic Acid And Derivatives: Towards Novel Nature-inspired Sunscreens

Fan, Jiayun

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/116667 Copy

Description

Title

High-resolution Laser Spectroscopic Studies Of Urocanic Acid And Derivatives: Towards Novel Nature-inspired Sunscreens

Author(s)

Fan, Jiayun

Contributor(s)

• Buma, Wybren Jan
• Lemmens, Alexander Karel
• Finazzi, Laura

Issue Date

2022-06-23

Keyword(s)

Mini-symposium: Spectroscopy meets Chemical Dynamics

Abstract

Trans-urocanic acid (UA) is found in the outer layer of human skin, where -due to its favorable UV absorption properties- it is thought to act as a natural sunscreen protecting DNA from photodamage. In recent decades it has become clear, however, that the cis-isomer produced upon irradiation has immunosuppressive properties, which is the main reason that UA is no longer employed in commercial sunscreen formulations. As a basic chromophore UA is nevertheless an excellent starting point for the development of potentially harmless nature-inspired sunscreens. Key to such efforts is a fundamental understanding of the photochemistry and photophysics of UA on which there are still quite a number of unresolved questions, and how substitutions affect these properties. Here we report on molecular beam studies of (substituted) UA compounds using Resonance Enhanced MultiPhoton Ionization (REMPI) spectroscopic techniques that demonstrate that previous conclusions need to be revised. Together with FT-IR and UV/Vis absorption studies of these compounds in various solvents they provide a comprehensive view on the photoactive properties of these compounds, as well as the influence of the presence of different conformers and tautomers.

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/116667

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15278/isms.2022.RH02

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 held by the authors

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