Low-frequency vibrational modes of riboflavin and related compounds

The low-frequency vibrations of riboflavin and related compounds (alloxazine, lumichrome, lumiflavin as the ring system and d-mannitol as the side-chain system) were observed by far-infrared (terahertz) spectroscopy. Vibrational mode assignments in this spectrally congested range were made using high precision quantum chemical calculations. These resonance frequencies located below 200 cm−1 indicate the existence of motions important for biological reactions. The observed absorption bands in the low-frequency region of riboflavin are assigned to the in-plane and out-of-plane-ring deformations of pyrimidine and isoalloxazine, and to the torsion modes of the ribityl chain.