IR and Raman spectra have been investigated for imidazolate and 4-meth
ylimidazolate including five and three deuterated analogs, respectivel
y. Assignment of the observed IR and Raman bands has been made on the
basis of isotopic frequency shifts, Raman polarization properties, and
normal coordinate calculations. The calculated normal frequencies are
in good agreement with experimental ones: the average error below 160
0 cm-1 is 4.5 cm-1 for 104 in-plane vibrations and 3.8 cm-1 for 43 out
-of-plane vibrations. The calculated vibrational modes are useful in a
nalyzing the Raman bands of histidine residues in proteins.