Interaction of cytidine 5'-monophosphate with Au(111): an in situ infrared spectroscopic study

The interaction of cytidine 5'-monophosphate (CMP) with gold surfaces is studied by means of in situ infrared spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry at the Au(111)|aqueous solution interface. Similar to other nucleic acid components, cytidine 5'-monophosphate is chemisorbed on the surface at positive potentials, and the amount of adsorbed CMP increases with the potential. Subtractively normalized interfacial Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (SNIFTIRS) is used to identify the adsorbed and desorbed species. Upon electrochemical desorption, the molecules released in solution are unprotonated on the N3 atom. Striking similarities are found between the spectrum of adsorbed CMP and the solution spectrum of protonated CMP. The origin of such similarities is discussed. The results strongly suggest that chemisorption occurs through the N3 atom of the pyrimidine ring. A comparison is drawn with cytidine, whose electrochemical and spectroscopic behaviors are also investigated.