Optical rotation of noncovalent aggregates

A Density Functional Theory Study of Optical Rotation in Some Aziridine and Oxirane Derivatives

We present time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations of the electronic optical rotation (ORP) for seven oxirane and two aziridine derivatives in the gas phase and in solution and compare the results with the available experimental values. For seven of the studied molecules it is the first time that their optical rotation was studied theoretically and we have therefore investigated the influence of several settings in the TDDFT calculations on the results. This includes the choice of the one-electron basis set, the exchange-correlation functional or the particular polarizable continuum model (PCM). We can confirm that polarized quadruple zeta basis sets augmented with diffuse functions are necessary for converged results and find that the aug-pc-3 basis set is a viable alternative to the frequently employed aug-cc-pVQZ basis set. Based on our study, we cannot recommend the generalized gradient functional KT3 for calculations of the ORP in these compounds, whereas the hybrid functional PBE0 gives results quite similar to the long-range correct CAM-B3LYP functional. Finally, we observe large differences in the solvent effects predicted by the integral equation formalism of PCM and the SMD variant of PCM. For the majority of solute/solvent combinations in this study, we find that the SMD model in combination with the PBE0 functional and the aug-pc-3 basis set gives the best agreement with the experimental values.

Solvent Effects and Aggregation Phenomena Studied by Vibrational Optical Activity and Molecular Dynamics: The Case of Pantolactone

Raman and Raman optical activity (ROA), IR, and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of (R)- and (S)-pantolactone have been recorded in three solvents. ROA has been employed on water and DMSO solutions, VCD on DMSO and CCl₄ solutions. In the last solvent, monomer-dimer equilibrium is present. Due to the low conformational flexibility of the isolated molecule and to the possibility of aggregation, this compound has been used here to test different protocols for computation of the spectroscopic responses taking into account solvent effects. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been carried out together with statistical clustering methods based on collective variables to extract the structures needed to calculate the spectra. Quantum mechanical DFT calculations based on PCM are compared with approaches based on different representations of the solvent shell (MM or QM level). Appropriate treatment of the solvent permits obtaining of good band-shapes, with the added advantage that the MD analysis allows one to take into account flexibility of dimeric structures justifying the broadness of observed bands and the absence of intense VCD couplets in the carbonyl and OH stretching regions.

Tautomerism and Self-Association in the Solution of New Pinene-Bipyridine and Pinene-Phenanthroline Derivatives

Two novel pinene-type ligands have been synthesized and their tautomeric and self-associating behavior studied in solution and in the solid state. The first ligand, an acetylated derivative of 5,6-pinene-bipyridine, displays keto-enol tautomerism in solution. This tautomeric equilibrium was studied by NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy in various solvents, and the results were compared with the ones obtained through DFT calculations. The second ligand was obtained by an unusual oxidation of the phenanthroline unit of a pinene-phenanthroline derivative. This compound exists as a single tautomer in solution and aggregates both in solution (as observed by NMR) and in the solid state through H-bonding as observed by X-ray structure determination and confirmed by DFT studies.

Metal-free three-dimensional perovskite ferroelectrics

Inorganic perovskite ferroelectrics are widely used in nonvolatile memory elements, capacitors, and sensors because of their excellent ferroelectric and other properties. Organic ferroelectrics are desirable for their mechanical flexibility, low weight, environmentally friendly processing, and low processing temperatures. Although almost a century has passed since the first ferroelectric, Rochelle salt, was discovered, examples of highly desirable organic perovskite ferroelectrics are lacking. We found a family of metal-free organic perovskite ferroelectrics with the characteristic three-dimensional structure, among which MDABCO (N-methyl-N'-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octonium)-ammonium triiodide has a spontaneous polarization of 22 microcoulombs per square centimeter [close to that of barium titanate (BTO)], a high phase transition temperature of 448 kelvins (above that of BTO), and eight possible polarization directions. These attributes make it attractive for use in flexible devices, soft robotics, biomedical devices, and other applications.

Optical Activity of Homochiral Polyamides in Solution and Solid State: Structural Function for Chiral Induction

In this work, we have explored a simple and facile approach to prepare optically active helical polyamides. The hydroxyl groups of l-TA and d-TA were protected by O-alkoyl ester, and the resulting enantiomers, l-2,3-di-O-acetyl-tartaric acid (l-ATA) and d-2,3-di-O-acetyl-tartaric acid (d-ATA) crystals, were obtained. A pair of aliphatic homochiral polyamides of PA-l and PA-d are prepared using l-ATA, d-ATA, and achiral 1,11-undecanediamine as building blocks via interfacial polycondensation. PA-l and PA-d display negative and positive mirror circular dichroism (CD) spectra images in both solution and solid state. Moreover, the polyamides in solid state display different CD signals and stronger optical activity compared to those in ethanol and even the related chiral monomers in solid state, which was due to the helical conformation of the polyamides in solid state. Scanning electron microscopy results indicated that the aggregations of PA-l express left-handed helical sense, whereas those of PA-d express right-handed helix. In addition, the induced CD signals from the chiral conformation of the backbone become weaker when increasing the temperature from 0 to 60 °C in dilute solution. Either of the polyamides displays relatively stable CD images in solid state when elevating the temperature from 0 to 90 °C.

Facile Synthesis and Enhanced Aggregation-Induced Circular Dichroism of Novel Chiral Polyamides

A series of optically active polyamides, PAnLATs (n = 9-12), were prepared by polycondensation of l-tartrate-derived diacid with achiral aliphatic diamines in which the number of the methylene is from 9 to 12. The monomers could be obtained easily, and the synthesis of the polyamides is facile. The number-average molecular weight (M̅ n) of PA9LAT, PA10LAT, PA11LAT, and PA12LAT is 35 500, 24 400, 35 800, and 20 900 g/mol, respectively, and the related polydispersity index is 3.4, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.0. These polyamides display intense optical activity in solution. Particularly, the stronger ellipticities and different circular dichroism (CD) images were presented when the polymers were evaluated in the solid state. The crystalline properties of the polymers were studied to illuminate the enhanced aggregation-induced CD. Moreover, PA9LAT and PA11LAT have similar crystal parameters, and PA10LAT is similar to PA12LAT, which revealed why the chirality of the polyamides displays an odd-even effect. On the other hand, the solubility of the polymers in organic solvents was studied, and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analyzer was utilized to characterize the thermal properties.

Anomalously rotary polarization discovered in homochiral organic ferroelectrics

Molecular ferroelectrics are currently an active research topic in the field of ferroelectric materials. As complements or alternatives of conventional inorganic ferroelectrics, they have been designed to realize various novel properties, ranging from multiferroicity and semiconductive ferroelectricity to ferroelectric photovoltaics and ferroelectric luminescence. The stabilizing of ferroelectricity in various systems is owing to the flexible tailorability of the organic components. Here we describe the construction of optically active molecular ferroelectrics by introducing homochiral molecules as polar groups. We find that the ferroelectricity in (R)-(-)-3-hydroxlyquinuclidinium halides is due to the alignment of the homochiral molecules. We observe that both the specific optical rotation and rotatory direction change upon paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transitions, due to the existence of two origins from the molecular chirality and spatial arrangement, whose contributions vary upon the transitions. The optical rotation switching effect may find applications in electro-optical elements.

Bimodal concentration-dependent reactivity pattern of a glycosyl donor: Is the solution structure involved?

Changes in concentration (0.001-0.1 M) of an arabinofuranosyl donor (1) have been shown to modulate the temperature T at which activation of 1 occurs (from -23 °C to +7 °C), the reaction time (from 1.5 h to 3 days) and the yield of the disaccharide formed (from 14% to 82%). At concentrations exceeding 0.01 M, these parameters, as well as the specific optical rotation of the solution of 1, virtually do not depend on concentration suggesting formation of reacting species (supramers) of glycosyl donor with similar structures, hence reactivities, but considerably different from those formed in more dilute solutions. The found critical concentration (0.01 M) separates two concentration ranges of reaction solutions corresponding to two types of solution structure that are featured by the presence of fundamentally different supramers of glycosyl donor, which have distinct chemical properties. These results allow a fresh look at the problems of reactivity of chemical compounds and selectivity of the reactions in which they participate.

Dynamic Formation of Noncovalent Calixsalen Aggregates

A procedure for studying "dynamic structural behavior" of large chiral macrocycles is presented. Ion mobility MS, diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY NMR), and optical rotation (OR) measurements, supported by calculations, are used together as effective complementary methods to study dynamic formation of noncovalent aggregates. It is shown that the monomer-dimer equilibrium is driven by π-π or CH-π interactions and controlled largely by the substitution pattern of the calixsalen skeleton.

Specific rotation of monosaccharides: a global property bringing local information

Carbohydrates generally occur in several conformations that may differ among themselves by energy values that are smaller than the accuracy of the most sophisticated theoretical methods used to determine them. In addition, the preferential orientations of the hydroxyl groups of these molecules cannot be identified by any experimental technique. Therefore, a method that is able to validate the absolute conformations (i.e., consisting of the orientations of the hydroxyl groups) of carbohydrates would be helpful to improve our knowledge about monosaccharides. SR has been used for this purpose, and here, we present a test to measure the specific rotation (SR) ability of a molecule that possesses not only many conformations, but also four adjacent chiral centers. The results show that the final SR value is a weighted average of a global property (obtained for each conformation), and the latter by its turn is influenced by each chiral center in a multi chiral system. By comparing the SR values calculated for the most abundant anomers of xylopyranose with those of the corresponding monochiral analogs obtained by saturation of three different chiral centers each time, the influence of each center on the global property is confirmed.

Wavelength resolved specific optical rotations and homochiral equilibria

Wavelength resolved specific optical rotations in homochiral monomer–dimer equilibria.

Polarimetry as a tool for the study of solutions of chiral solutes

Optical rotation of aqueous solutions of D-levoglucosan was studied experimentally in the 0.03-4.0 mol L(-1) concentration range and a nonlinear concentration dependence of specific optical rotation (SR) was revealed. Discontinuities observed in the concentration plot of SR (at 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mol L(-1)) are well correlated with those found by static and dynamic light scattering and identify concentration ranges in which different solution domains (supramers) may exist. The average SR experimental value for a D-levoglucosan aqueous solution ([α]D(28) -58.5±8.7 deg dm(-1) cm(-3) g(-1)) was found to be in good agreement with values obtained by theoretical calculation (TD-DFT/GIAO) of SR for 15 different conformers revealed by conformational sampling at the PCM/B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level, which were shown to be strongly affected by the solvation microenvironment (0, 1, 2, and 3 explicit solvent molecules considered) due to local geometrical changes induced in the solute molecule. This exceptionally high sensitivity of SR makes polarimetry a unique method capable of sensing changes in the structure of supramers detected in this study.

Total synthesis of (-)-goniotrionin

A stereoselective total synthesis of the reported structure of goniotrionin (4) has been accomplished. The key steps involved the opening of a chiral epoxide, a highly diastereoselective Mukaiyama aerobic oxidative cyclization, a selective 1,2-syn Mukaiyama aldol reaction, and a Noyori reduction.

Optical signatures of molecular dissymmetry: combining theory with experiments to address stereochemical puzzles

Modern chemistry emerged from the quest to describe the three-dimensional structure of molecules: van't Hoff's tetravalent carbon placed symmetry and dissymmetry at the heart of chemistry. In this Account, we explore how modern theory, synthesis, and spectroscopy can be used in concert to elucidate the symmetry and dissymmetry of molecules and their assemblies. Chiroptical spectroscopy, including optical rotatory dispersion (ORD), electronic circular dichroism (ECD), vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), and Raman optical activity (ROA), measures the response of dissymmetric structures to electromagnetic radiation. This response can in turn reveal the arrangement of atoms in space, but deciphering the molecular information encoded in chiroptical spectra requires an effective theoretical approach. Although important correlations between ECD and molecular stereochemistry have existed for some time, a battery of accurate new theoretical methods that link a much wider range of chiroptical spectroscopies to structure have emerged over the past decade. The promise of this field is considerable: theory and spectroscopy can assist in assigning the relative and absolute configurations of complex products, revealing the structure of noncovalent aggregates, defining metrics for molecular diversity based on polarization response, and designing chirally imprinted nanomaterials. The physical organic chemistry of chirality is fascinating in its own right: defining atomic and group contributions to optical rotation (OR) is now possible. Although the common expectation is that chiroptical response is determined solely by a chiral solute's electronic structure in a given environment, chiral imprinting effects on the surrounding medium and molecular assembly can, in fact, dominate the chiroptical signatures. The theoretical interpretation of chiroptical markers is challenging because the optical properties are subtle, resulting from the strong electric dipole and the weaker electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole perturbations by the electromagnetic field. Moreover, OR arises from a combination of nearly canceling contributions to the electronic response. Indeed, the challenge posed by the chiroptical properties delayed the advent of even qualitatively accurate descriptions for some chiroptical signatures until the past decade when, for example, prediction of the observed sign of experimental OR became accessible to theory. The computation of chiroptical signatures, in close coordination with synthesis and spectroscopy, provides a powerful framework to diagnose and interpret the dissymmetry of chemical structures and molecular assemblies. Chiroptical theory now produces new schemes to elucidate structure, to describe the specific molecular sources of chiroptical signatures, and to assist in our understanding of how dissymmetry is templated and propagated in the condensed phase.

Specific Anion Effects on the Optical Rotation of α-Amino Acids

Changes in optical rotation of some alpha-amino acids are induced by electrolytes. Such effects on l- and d-enantiomers of a range of amino acids are explored for sodium salts with varying anion. The amino acids studied were alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, proline, threonine, and tryptophan. The anion's polarizability in solution accounts for the change in [alpha] only for the halides. Self-association of amino acids in solution and pH changes due to the presence of the electrolytes do not account for the observed variations in optical activity. Specific interactions of anions with the chiral amino acids (Hofmeister effects) and salt-induced perturbations of the amino acid hydration shell appear to be responsible for the effects, and conformational changes in the chiral solutes due to the presence of ionic species are discussed.

Absolute Configuration of Conformationally Flexiblecis-Dihydrodiol Metabolites by the Method of Confrontation of Experimental and Calculated Electronic CD Spectra and Optical Rotations

We have determined the absolute configurations of conformationally flexible cis-dihydrodiol metabolites (cis-1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-cyclohexadienes), bearing different substituents (e.g., Br, F, CF3, CN, Me) in 3- and 5-positions, by the method of confrontation of experimental and calculated electronic CD spectra and optical rotations. Convergent results were obtained by both methods in eight out of ten cases. For the difficult cases, where either conformer population and/or chiroptical properties (calculated rotational strengths of the long-wavelength Cotton effect or optical rotations) of contributing conformers remain inconclusive, the absolute configuration could still be correctly assigned based on one of the biased properties (either ECD or optical rotation). This approach appears well-suited for a broad spectrum of conformationally flexible chiral molecules.

Absolute configuration of C76 from optical rotatory dispersion

The absolute configuration of C76 has been determined as (+)589-(fC)-C76 , for the first time, by comparing the experimental and predicted optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) patterns. The experimental ORD pattern was derived from the experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectrum using the Kramers-Kronig (KK) transform. The theoretical ORD spectra were calculated in the resonant region using linear response theory, and also using the KK transform of the theoretical ECD spectrum, at different theoretical levels, namely BHLYP/6-31G*, B3LYP/6-31G*, BLYP/6-31G*, and HF/6-31G*. Good agreement noted between experimental and predicted spectra allows for an unambiguous determination of the absolute configuration.

Ab Initio Optical Rotatory Dispersion and Electronic Circular Dichroism Spectra of (S)-2-Chloropropionitrile

Coupled-cluster and density-functional methods have been used to determine specific rotations and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) rotational strengths for (S)-2-chloropropionitrile. Coupled-cluster specific rotations using both the length- and velocity-gauge representations of the electric-dipole operator, computed with basis sets of triple-zeta quality containing up to 326 functions, compare very well with recently reported gas-phase cavity-ring-down polarimetry data. ECD rotational strengths for the six lowest-lying excited states are found to vary in sign, and the second excited state, which has a larger rotational strength than the first by a factor of 4, was found to yield a much larger contribution (by a factor of 10) to the overall negative specific rotation observed both experimentally and theoretically. However, both valence and Rydberg states appear to make substantial contributions to the total rotation, often of opposite sign from the converged/linear-response result. Furthermore, the sum-over-states approach was found to be inadequate for reproducing the specific rotations derived from the linear-response approach, even when 100 excited states (well beyond the estimated ionization limit) were included in the summation. Density-functional specific rotations using the B3LYP functional with basis sets of quadruple-zeta quality containing up to 588 functions are found to be too large compared to experiment by approximately a factor of 2. This error appears to be related to both the underestimation of the electronic excitation energies, as well as concomitant overestimation of the corresponding ECD rotational strengths. Although earlier studies reported good agreement between density-functional specific rotations and experiment when electric-field-dependent functions were used in conjunction with a double-zeta-quality basis set, the results reported here, which are near the basis-set limit, suggest that this agreement may be fortuitous.

Effect of Dimerization and Racemization Processes on the Electron Density and the Optical Rotatory Power of Hydrogen Peroxide Derivatives

The variation of the electron density properties and optical rotatory power of the monomers and dimers of seven monosubstituted hydrogen peroxide derivatives, HOOX (X = CCH, CH(3), CF(3), t-Bu, CN, F, Cl), upon racemization has been studied using DFT (B3LYP/6-31+G) and MP2 (MP2/6-311+G) methods. The geometrical results have been rationalized on the basis of natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The atomic partition of the electron density properties within the atoms in molecules (AIM) methodology has allowed investigating the energy and charge redistribution in the different structures considered. The calculated optical rotatory power (ORP) of the dimers are, in general, twice of the values obtained for the monomers.

Chiral Recognition in Self-complexes of Tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d]imidazole Derivatives: From Dimers to Heptamers

The chiral discrimination in the self-association of chiral 1,3a,4,6a-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d]imidazoles has been studied using density functional theory methods. Clusters from dimers to heptamers have been considered. The heterochiral dimers (RR:SS or SS:RR) are more stable than the homochiral ones (RR:RR or SS:SS) with energy differences up to 17.5 kJ/mol. Besides, in larger clusters the presence of two adjacent homochiral molecules impose an energetic penalty when compared to alternated chiral systems (RR:SS:RR:SS...). The differences in interaction energy within the dimers of the different derivatives have been analyzed based on the atomic energy partition carried out within the atoms in molecules framework. The mechanism of proton transfer in the homo- and heterochiral dimers shows large transition-state barriers except in those cases in which a third additional molecule is involved in the transfer. The optical rotatory power of several clusters of the parent compound have been calculated and rationalized based on the number of homochiral interactions and the number of monomers of each enantiomer within the complexes.

Solvent effects on the conformational distribution and optical rotation of γ-methyl paraconic acids and esters

A computational investigation of the optical rotatory power of cis and trans 2-methyl-5-oxo-tetrahydro-3-furancarboxylic acids and the corresponding methyl and ethyl esters is presented. Solvent effects on both the conformational space and the rotatory power are analyzed by comparing results obtained in vacuo with those computed--using the Polarizable Continuum Model--in methanol. A comparison with experimental observations for the optical rotatory power of the title compounds in methanol is also carried out, in a few cases also for several wavelengths. Agreement between theory and experiment is in all cases excellent, in particular when solvent effects are included both in the geometry optimization and in the calculation of the OR, thus confirming the validity of the computational procedure adopted, even for this challenging family of floppy molecules.

Absolute Configuration ofC2-Symmetric Spiroselenurane: 3,3,3′,3′-Tetramethyl-1,1′-spirobi[3H,2,1]Benzoxaselenole

The enantiomers of 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobi[3 H,2,1]benzoxaselenole have been separated on a chiral preparative chromatographic column. The experimental vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra have been obtained for both enantiomers in CH(2)Cl(2). The theoretical VCD spectra have been obtained by means of density functional theoretical calculations with the B3 LYP density functional. From a comparison of experimental and theoretical VCD spectra, the absolute configuration of an enantiomer with positive specific rotation in CH(2)Cl(2) at 589 nm is determined to be R. This conclusion has been verified by comparing results of experimental optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) to predictions of the same properties using the B3 LYP functional for the title compound.

Chiral Recognition in Cyclic α-Hydroxy Carbonyl Compounds: A Theoretical Study

A theoretical study (DFT and MP2) of the self-association of homochiral (RR or SS) and heterochiral (RS or SR) dimers of three series of cyclic alpha-hydroxy-carbonyl derivatives has been carried out. The solvation effect on the parent derivative dimers has been explored, showing nonsignificant changes in the configurations preferred but altering in some cases the homo/heterochiral preference of the dimers. The results in the gas phase of the systems with different substituents show a preference for the heterochiral dimers. The energetic results have been analyzed with the NBO and AIM methodologies. Optical rotatory power calculations of the monomers and homochiral dimers show large variations of this parameter depending on the substituents and the complexation.

Determination of absolute configurations of chiral molecules using ab initio time-dependent Density Functional Theory calculations of optical rotation: How reliable are absolute configurations obtained for molecules with small rotations?

The absolute configuration (AC) of a chiral molecule can be determined via calculation of its specific rotation. Currently, the latter is most accurately carried out using the TDDFT/GIAO methodology. Here we examine the reliability of this methodology in determining ACs of molecules with small specific rotations. We report TDDFT/GIAO B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31G* calculations of the sodium D line specific rotations, [alpha]D, of 65 conformationally rigid chiral molecules whose experimental [alpha]D values are small (<100). The RMS deviations, sigma, of calculated and experimental [alpha]D values is 28.9. The distribution of deviations is approximately Gaussian, i.e., random. For eight molecules, more than 10% of the set, the sign of the predicted [alpha]D is incorrect. In determining an AC of a rigid molecule from [alpha]D with 95% confidence, the calculated [alpha]D value must lie within +/-2sigma of the experimental [alpha]D for one, but not both, of the possible ACs. For the 65 molecules of this study +/-2sigma is 57.8. For conformationally flexible molecules, the error bar is +/- >57.8.