The observation of biomolecules in the gas phase is a
unique means to unravel their intrinsic physical and chemical
properties. It allows for their detection in the absence
of perturbation, for the use of sophisticated detection
methods such as mass spectrometry or photoelectron spectroscopy
and direct comparison with quantum chemical
calculations. However, the main problem is to bring intact
in the gas phase such complex and fragile molecules. This
can be achieved by several methods: direct heating, laser
desorption or electrospray. We have used here laser vaporisation
from a mixed graphite–vitamin B12 pellet in a similar
fashion to Piuzzi et al. [1]. The graphite matrix is laserheated
and desorbs the B12 molecule which is rapidly
cooled in a supersonic expansion.
Vitamin B12 or cyanocobalamin (C63H88CoN14O14P
is formed by a cobalt III atom coordinated in the
pocket of a corrin. In addition a cyano ligand (–CN) and
a dimethylimidazole molecule coordinate the cobalt on
each side of the corrin plane. The corrin system is similar
to the porphyrin ring except for one missing bridging
methine (CH2) and the corrin ring is partially saturated.
Like other vitamins, vitamin B12 is important for metabolism.
It is a precursor and is converted to its active forms in
the human liver, first into hydroxocobalamin (R = H2O),
then into methylcobalamin (R = Me) and finally into adenosylcobalamin
(R = C10H10N5O3). These latter two have
enzymatic activity, methylcobalamin being a methylation
agent [2], while B12 has no recognised activity by itself.
We are here interested in its photoactivity and especially
in the ligand loss mechanism. Already, ultrafast photoexcitation
has been used to investigate this latter mechanism in
the liquid phase. It has been shown that upon excitation of
vitamin B12 at 400 and 520 nm and transient IR absorption
detection [3], the CN ligand remains on the cobalt core, but
displays a lengthening of the Co–C bond. The CN ligand is
in general the most strongly bound to metalloporphyrins
[4]. Upon photoexcitation the B12 molecule undergoes
rapid relaxation to the ground state and shows no other
activity, on the contrary to alkylcobalamines that are photolysed
upon excitation [5]. We have undertaken a study of