Determination of Absolute Configuration of Chiral Hemicage Metal Complexes Using Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory

Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Thiophene-Bridged Macrocyclic pseudo-meta [2.2]Paracyclophanes

Chiral organic molecules possessing high quantum yields, circular dichroism, and circularly polarized luminescence values have great potential as optically active materials for future applications. Recently, the identification of a promising class of inherently chiral compounds was reported, namely macrocyclic 1,3-butadiyne-linked pseudo-meta[2.2]paracyclophanes, displaying high circular dichroism and related gabs values albeit modest quantum yields. Increasing the quantum yields in an attempt to get bright circularly polarized light emitters, the high-yielding heterocyclization of those 1,3-butadiyne bridges resulting in macrocyclic 2,5-thienyls-linked pseudo-meta [2.2]paracyclophanes is herein described. The chiroptical properties of both, the previously reported 1,3-butadiyne, and the novel 2,5-thienyl bridged macrocycles of various sizes, are experimentally recorded, and theoretically described using density-functional theory.

Low-Lying Excited States of hqxcH and Zn-hqxc Complex: Toward Understanding Intramolecular Proton Transfer Emission

Excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) has been a topic of interest due to its potential to lead to multiple emissions. Although many organic molecules showing ESIPT emission are already known, studies on metal complexes showing ESIPT and their related theoretical understandings are very limited. In this study, we focus on [Zn(hqxc)₂(DMSO)₂] (Zn-hqxc: hqxc = 3-hydroxy-2-quinoxalinecarboxylate, DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide), which shows ESIPT emission in the solid state, even though the hqxcH ligand does not show ESIPT emission. To gain insights into the role of the zinc atom and the emission mechanisms, we examined excited states of free hqxcH and the Zn-hqxc complex using time-dependent density functional theory calculations. From the results, it was shown that the zinc atom triggers a structural change of the hqxcH ligand from the lactam form (3,4-dihydro-3-oxo-2-quinoxalinecarboxylic acid) to the enol form (3-hydroxy-2-quinoxalinecarboxylic acid), where the latter form has several stable excited states. Several stable geometries were found for singlet and triplet excited states, suggesting that emissions for the Zn-hqxc complex can be both phosphorescence and fluorescence caused by the enol-enol, keto-keto, and keto-enol forms of the two hqcx ligands in the complex. We found that the photophysical properties of the Zn-hqxc complex are dominated by the ligand due to the filled d¹⁰ of Zn(II). The presented results suggest that, to design new ESIPT metal complexes, one possible approach is to combine a metal atom showing ligand centered emission and a ligand that has separate ESIPT and coordination sites.

Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrocene Based Hemicages

We present a series of tripodal ligands L1-3, which fold into hemicages C1-3 by using coordination-driven dynamic combinational chemistry. The identities of these hemicages were characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹H-¹H COSY, DOSY, and ESI-TWIM-MS. Free rotation of the ferrocene structural units in the ligands affords an adaptable directionality, which is essential for the construction of these hemicages. Encapsulation of adamantane by C2 indicates the presence of a well-defined inner cavity as the binding pocket.

TDDFT studies on the chiroptical properties of a chiral inorganic polythioanion Möbius strip

We investigate the ECD spectra of a chiral inorganic polythioanion Möbius strip.

Chiroptical spectra of a series of tetrakis((+)-3-heptafluorobutylyrylcamphorato)lanthanide(III) with an encapsulated alkali metal ion: circularly polarized luminescence and absolute chiral structures for the Eu(III) and Sm(III) complexes

The luminescence and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra of M(I)[Eu((+)-hfbc)(4)] show a similar behavior to the exciton CD in the intraligand π-π* transitions when the alkali metal ions and solvents are manipulated. There is a difference in susceptibility in solvation toward the alkali metal ions but not toward the Eu(III) ion, as in the case of axially symmetric DOTA-type compounds. The remarkable CPL in the 4f-4f transitions provide much more information on the stereospecific formation of chiral Eu(III) complexes, since CPL spectroscopy is limited to luminescent species and reflects selectively toward helicity of the local structural environment around the lanthanide(III). While in comparison, exciton CD reveals the chiral structural information from the helical arrangement of the four bladed chelates. Of special importance, the observation of the highest CPL activities measured to date for lanthanide(III)-containing compounds (i.e., Eu and Sm) in solution supports the theory that the chirality of lanthanide(III) in the excited state corresponds to that in the ground state, which was derived from the exciton CD.

Calculation of optical rotatory dispersion and electronic circular dichroism for tris-bidentate groups 8 and 9 metal complexes, with emphasis on exciton coupling

The optical rotatory dispersion (ORD, both non-resonant and resonant) and the electronic circular dichroism (CD) of tris-bidentate transition metal complexes of the form [M(L)(3)](n+) (M = Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir; n = 2, 3; L = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2'-bipyridine) are calculated using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The exciton CD band resulting from the coupling of ligand π-to-π* transitions is investigated in detail and analyzed in terms of exciton coupling of long-axis transitions using a dipole coupling model that takes TDDFT data for a single ligand as input. Results of the coupling model agree well with the full TDDFT CD spectra. The usefulness and reliability of this model is discussed. The resonant ORDs calculated directly from analytical damped linear TDDFT response compare well with Kramers-Kronig transformations of the calculated CD spectra. For comparisons of resonant ORD with experiment, one needs to consider wavelength shifts.

Time-dependent density functional response theory for electronic chiroptical properties of chiral molecules

Methodology to calculate electronic chiroptical properties from time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is outlined. Applications of TDDFT to computations of electronic circular dichroism, optical rotation, and optical rotatory dispersion are reviewed. Emphasis is put on publications from 2005 to 2010, but much of the older literature is also cited and discussed. The determination of the absolute configuration of chiral molecules by combined measurements and computations is an important application of TDDFT chiroptical methods and discussed in some detail. Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra are obtained from normal-mode derivatives of the optical rotation tensor and other linear response tensors. A few selected (ROA) benchmarks are reviewed.

Racemic atropisomeric N,N-chelate ligands for recognizing chiral carboxylates via Zn(II) coordination: structure, fluorescence, and circular dichroism

Two racemic atropisomeric N,N'-chelate ligands, bis{3,3'-[N-Ph-2-(2'-py)indolyl]} (1) and bis{3,3'-N-4-[N-2-(2'-py)indolyl]phenyl-2-(2'-py)indolyl} (2), have been found to be able to distinguish the enantiomers of Zn((R)-BrMeBu)2 and Zn((S)-BrMeBu)2 where BrMeBu = O2CCH(Br)CHMe2, with a distinct and intense CD spectral response at approximately the 10 microM concentration range. Computational studies established that the (R)-1-Zn((R)-BrMeBu)2 or (S)-1-Zn((S)-BrMeBu)2 diastereomer is more stable than (R)-1-Zn((S)-BrMeBu)2 or (S)-1-Zn((R)-BrMeBu)2. In addition, computational studies showed that the CD spectra of (S)-1-Zn((S)-BrMeBu)2 and (S)-1-Zn((R)-BrMeBu)2 are similar. (1)H NMR spectra confirmed that these two diastereomers exist in solution in about a 2:1 ratio for both complexes of 1 and 2. The distinct CD response of the racemic ligands 1 and 2 toward the chiral zinc(II) carboxylate is therefore attributed to the preferential formation of one diastereomer. The binding modes of the zinc(II) salt with ligands 1 and 2 were established by the crystal structures of the model compounds 1-Zn(tfa)2 and 2-Zn(tfa)2 (tfa = CF3CO2(-)), where the Zn(II) ion is chelated by the two central pyridyl groups in the ligand. Fluorescent titration experiments with various zinc(II) salts showed that the fluorescent spectrum of the atropisomeric ligand displays an anion-dependent change. The zinc(II) binding strength to the N,N'-chelate site of the atropisomeric ligand has been found to play a key role in the selective recognition of different chiral zinc(II) carboxylate derivatives by the racemic atropisomeric ligands.