Structural analysis of biological aliphatic compounds using surface-enhanced Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy
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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Raman and IR Spectroelectrochemical Methods as Tools to Analyze Conjugated Organic Compounds
Published on: October 12, 2018
1Department of Applied Molecular Chemistry, College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University, 1-2-1- Izumi-cho, Narashino, Chiba 275-8575, Japan. t5hasega@cit.nihon-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique for Fourier transform Raman spectrometry is employed to reveal the chemical structure of biological aliphatic compounds consisting of folded, long aliphatic chains. The structural analysis is performed via the measurements of the accordion-vibration modes generated in the ordered, long aliphatic chain. The SERS spectra after subtraction of a background spectrum give segment lengths that are almost perfectly consistent with the chemical structures studied by mass spectrometry. The agreement of the SERS results with those of mass spectrometry suggests the positions of kinks in the long hydrocarbon chain. The combination technique of SERS and mass spectrometry is useful to discuss the structure of folded, long biological lipids.
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