Optical activity in absorption bands: a scattering formalism treatment

The theory of optical activity in absorption is presented in the context of a scattering formalism. It gives account of CD and ORD band-shapes in the whole spectrum, and they are related to the lifetimes of the molecular states involved.     

Optical rotatory dispersion of steroids with various chromophores

Conclusions 1. On the basis of a comparative study of the ORD of steroids containing as chromophores the groups C=O, >C=C–C=C< and C=C, it has been established that in all the compounds the ORD is anomalous in the UV region of the spectrum.2. In steroid compounds the magnitude of the optical rotation increases with an increase in the geometrical dimensions of the chromophoric group.3. The ORD curves of steroid compounds with various -electronic chromophores are highly specific and can be used to study their structure and for identification purposes.Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 36–39, 1969     

Optical rotatory dispersion and vacuum ultraviolet circular dichroism of poly[(R)-oxypropylene]

The circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of poly[(R)-oxypropylene] in a number of solvents has been measured in the vacuum ultraviolet region. Two CD bands were measured for cyclohexane, acetonitrile, and trifluoroethanol solutions. The CD spectrum was extended to 140 nm and three bands were measured in a 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol solution. The similarity of these four CD spectra in sign, shape, and intensity confirm that poly[(R)-oxypropylene] has similar conformations in all solvents studied, even though the optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) in the visible region is positive for the cyclohexane solution but negative for the alcohol solutions. A Kronig–Kramers transform of the two CD bands observed for the cyclohexane solution accounts for the observed positive ORD spectrum. In contrast, a third large and negative CD band centered below 160 nm is necessary to account for the negative ORD spectra observed for the alcohol solutions. Apparently the anomalous sign variation of the ORD curves observed in the visible region is due to subtle changes in the interplay of a large number of CD bands. Solvent interaction, observed as a blue shift of the first two CD bands for the alcohol solutions, could produce the subtle changes necessary to change the sign of the ORD curve in the visible region. The first two CD bands of poly[(R)-oxypropylene] are tentatively assigned as n? σ^* and the third as an n? 3s.     

Time dependent density functional theory modeling of specific rotation and optical rotatory dispersion of the aromatic amino acids in solution

Time Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) along with the COnductor-like Screening MOdel (COSMO) has been applied to model the specific rotation at 589.3 nm and the optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) of the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine, and tryptophan. Solution structures at low, neutral, and high pH were determined. Both the anomalous dispersion absorbing (resonance) region and the lower energy (transparent) region of the ORD of the compounds were modeled. Linear response calculation of the specific rotation and ORD as well as Kramers-Kronig transformations of calculated circular dichroism spectra to model resonant ORD were compared with experimental data from the literature.     

Chiroptical spectroscopic determination of molecular structures of chiral sulfinamides: t-butanesulfinamide

The absolute configuration of t-butanesulfinamide has been determined as (-)-(S) using three different chiroptical spectroscopic methods, namely, vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD). Furthermore, the predominant conformation of this molecule is determined to have S=O and NH2 groups staggered with respect to the three methyl groups and to have amine hydrogens in gauche orientation with respect to S=O. The quality of predictions obtained for vibrational properties, namely, vibrational absorption and VCD, is found to be satisfactory with the B3LYP functional and 6-31G* basis set. However, this basis set is found to be inadequate for obtaining reliable predictions of electronic properties, namely, electronic absorption and ECD, but a larger aug-cc-pVDZ basis set is found to provide satisfactory prediction of electronic properties. t-Butanesulfinamide serves as an example which invalidates the recommendation of using the 6-31G* basis set for molecules that exhibit the same sign for the long-wavelength ECD band and ORD. This molecule also emphasizes the importance of simultaneous investigation of ECD and ORD, and the use of multiple chiroptical spectroscopic methods, for reliable determination of molecular stereochemistry.     

Theory of the absorption and circular dichroism spectra of helical molecular aggregates

A theory of the electronic circular dichroism (CD) and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) of infinite aggregates exhibiting cylindrical symmetry is presented in which, to the authors' knowledge, for the first time vibrational structure is included explicitly. It is shown that, with the coherent exciton scattering approximation in the Green function approach, the detailed vibrational structure of the aggregate absorption. CD and ORD bands can be calculated from a knowledge of the electronic coupling and the monomer absorption line shape alone. Detailed model calculations for a single helix are made and the results are used to expose the origin of different spectral features. A good reproduction of experimental J-aggregate spectra is obtained, using the same electronic interaction to fit both absorption and CD spectral line shapes. The theory allows some prediction of aggregate geometry to be made, but it is shown that an unambiguous geometrical assignment can only be made where experimental spectra for light of different propagation directions with respect to the cylinder axis are available.     

Theoretical study on the second-order nonlinear optical properties and reorganization energy of silafluorenes and spirobisilafluorenes derivatives

The electronic absorption and emission spectra, second-order polarizability and reorganization energy of the twenty silafluorenes and spirobisilafluorenes derivatives have been studied at the density functional theory level. The results show that the second-order polarizability (β) increases with increase in the number of the branches due to cooperative enhancement of the charge transfer, whereas the reorganization energy (λ) follows the opposite trend for the studied compounds. The properties (β and λ) of the compounds at the 3, 6-positions substitution are much better than those of compounds at the 2, 7-positions substitution. The effects of donor/acceptor (D/A) substitution and different spiroatoms (silicon or carbon) on second-order polarizability and reorganization energy are also discussed. It is noted that the charge transport properties can be tuned by changing the donor/acceptor (D/A) substitution, and the acceptor substitution can greatly reduce the reorganization energy. The electronic absorption spectra show that all studied compounds can meet the requirement of nonlinear optical (NLO) transparency. Thus, increasing the number of branches and acceptor substitution can remarkably enhance performance of this kind of compounds. Based on larger β, smaller λ and excellent optical transparency, this kind of compounds have a possibility to be excellent second-order NLO or charge transport materials.     

A single chiroptical spectroscopic method may not be able to establish the absolute configurations of diastereomers: dimethylesters of hibiscus and garcinia acids

Electronic circular dichroism (ECD), optical rotatory dispersion (ORD), and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of hibiscus acid dimethyl ester have been measured and analyzed in combination with quantum chemical calculations of corresponding spectra. These results, along with those reported previously for garcinia acid dimethyl ester, reveal that none of these three (ECD, ORD, or VCD) spectroscopic methods, in isolation, can unequivocally establish the absolute configurations of diastereomers. This deficiency is eliminated when a combined spectral analysis of either ECD and VCD or ORD and VCD methods is used. It is also found that the ambiguities in the assignment of absolute configurations of diastereomers may also be overcome when unpolarized vibrational absorption is included in the spectral analysis.     

Dependence of the two-photon absorption cross section on the conjugation of the phenylacetylene linker in dipolar donor-bridge-acceptor chromophores

The nonlinear optical properties of four isomeric dipolar two-photon chromophores are compared. The chromophores consist of a carbazole electron donor coupled to a naphthalimide electron acceptor by a phenylacetylene bridge. By variation of the connectivity of the bridge at the phenyl groups, four compounds with 0, 1, and 2 meta linkages are synthesized. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of these compounds are measured. Despite similar linear absorption cross sections, the two-photon absorption cross section delta of the all-meta compound is almost a factor of 10 lower than the all-para compound. By taking the detailed molecular conformations into account in order to calculate accurate dipole moment changes, we find that the decrease in delta results largely from the decreased charge transfer ability with increasing number of meta linkages. We find that a two-state model can be used to predict semiquantitatively the observed trend in delta on the basis of the linear optical properties of the molecules. This work illustrates the dramatic effect the ground-state polarizability can have on the nonlinear optical response of organic compounds and also provides a way to quantify the ability of meta linkages to inhibit charge transfer in their ground-state configuration.     

Imaging chirality with surface second harmonic generation microscopy

Chirality is a fundamental construct in nature which arises from an antisymmetric arrangement of atoms, molecules, or larger structures, resulting in the formation of nonsuperimposable mirror images. Bulk chiral effects can easily be measured using circular dichroism (CD) or optical rotary dispersion (ORD). However, the imaging of chirality originating from molecular surface films cannot be obtained with these linear optical methods. By using chiral second harmonic generation (C-SHG), with its inherent surface sensitivity and ability to discriminate between the symmetry of surface adsorbed species in combination with a counter-propagating optical geometry, we have developed the first nonlinear chiral microscope. In the study presented here, the intrinsic chirality of R- and S-(+)-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (RBN, SBN) has been used to image a patterned planar supported lipid bilayer (PSLB) of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) using C-SHG. Spatial resolution of the patterned PSLB is visible when either RBN or SBN is intercalated into the membrane. No image is observed when a racemic mixture of RBN and SBN is present. The C-SHG images are compared with those obtained from fluorescence microscopy to verify the C-SHG imaging technique. The results presented here demonstrate that C-SHG possesses the requisite surface selectivity and sensitivity to detect interfacial chirality and provides a direct route for the visualization of chirality originating from molecular surface films.     

Ab initio calculation of optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) curves: a simple and reliable approach to the assignment of the molecular absolute configuration

In this paper, both Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) methods have been used to make ab initio calculations of the optical rotatory power of selected molecules at several wavelengths; that is, part of the optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) curve has been predicted. This approach constitutes a new, simple, and reliable method to assign the molecular absolute configuration, at least for rigid molecules such as those studied in the present work. In fact, in this way, it is possible to overcome the difficulties connected to some relevant cases, in particular that of (-)-beta-pinene, for which even a very high-level (DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p)) calculation affords the wrong sign of the optical rotation at 633 nm. On the contrary, the predicted ORD curve, even using small basis sets, reproduces (below 400 nm) the experimental trend well, allowing for the correct configurational assignment. This result clearly shows that to have a reliable configurational assignment the comparison between experimental and predicted rotation values must be carried out at different wavelengths and not at a single frequency. The reason for this is that working at wavelengths approaching the absorption maximum the [alpha](lambda) values become larger and their prediction becomes more reliable. Coupling the use of an inexpensive instrument (a polarimeter working at a few wavelengths) with the use of a DFT-calculation package can also allow the experimental organic chemist to arrive, quickly and reliably, at the assignment of the molecular absolute configuration.     

Photosensitive chiral polyisocyanates

The dynamic polyisocyanate helix amplifies changes in the conformation of its side groups. Thereby it acts like a fast responding switch for optical properties. Here we show how the photoisomerization of chiral azo side groups can be used to induce large changes of chirooptical properties. These changes can be detected by CD measurements or by ORD measurements far from the absorption region. Large changes of the optical rotation can be induced reversibly in a multicycle process.     

Classification of Simple Oxides: A Polarizability Approach

A simple oxide classification has been proposed on the basis of correlation between electronic polarizabilities of the ions and their binding energies determined by XPS. Three groups of oxides have been considered taking into account the values obtained on refractive-index- or energy-gap-based oxide ion polarizability, cation polarizability, optical basicity, O 1s binding energy, metal (or nonmetal) binding energy, and Yamashita-Kurosawa's interaction parameter of the oxides. The group of semicovalent predominantly acidic oxides includes BeO, B₂O₃, P₂O₅, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, GeO₂, and Ga₂O₃ with low oxide ion polarizability, high O 1s binding energy, low cation polarizability, high metal (or nonmetal) outermost binding energy, comparatively low optical basicity, and strong interionic interaction, leading to the formation of strong covalent bonds. Some main group oxides so-called ionic or basic such as CaO, In₂O₃, SnO₂, and TeO₂ and most transition metal oxides show relatively high oxide ion polarizability, O 1s binding energy in a very narrow medium range, high cation polarizability, and low metal (or nonmetal) binding energy. Their optical basicity varies in a narrow range and it is close to that of CaO. The group of very ionic or very basic oxides includes CdO, SrO, and BaO as well as PbO, Sb₂O₃, and Bi₂O₃, which possess very high oxide ion polarizability, low O 1s binding energy, very high cation polarizability, and very low metal (or nonmetal) binding energy. Their optical basicity is higher than that of CaO and the interionic interaction is very weak, giving rise to the formation of very ionic chemical bonds.     

Bijvoet in solution reveals unexpected stereoselectivity in a Michael addition

The absolute configuration of small crystallizable molecules can be determined with anomalous X-ray diffraction as shown by Bijvoet in 1951. For the majority of compounds that can neither be crystallized nor easily be converted into crystallizable derivatives, stereocontrolled organic synthesis is still required to establish their absolute configuration. In this contribution, a new fundamental methodology for resolving the absolute configuration will be presented that does not require crystallization. With residual dipolar coupling enhanced NMR spectroscopy, ensembles of a limited number of structures are created reflecting the correct conformations and relative configuration. Subsequently, from these ensembles, optical rotation dispersion (ORD) spectra are predicted by DFT calculations and compared to experimental results. The combination of these two steps reveals the absolute configuration of a flexible molecule in solution, which is a big challenge to chiroptical methods and DFT in the absence of NMR spectroscopy. Here the absolute stereochemistry of the product of a new Michael addition, synthesized via a niobium(V) chiral enolate, will be elucidated by using the new methodology.     

A tight-binding model for the optical properties of Au55-clusters

We have computed the electronic structure and the imaginary part of the dielectric function of the Au55 cluster using a tight-binding model which takes into account size and boundary effects. Besides the Drude behavior, we obtain anomalous absorption peaks in the infrared region due to the breakdown of the selection rule Δk=0. Taking into account surface coating effects, the onset of the interband absorption above 2.5 eV results to be red shifted, in agreement with the experimental data. As a consequence, we obtain a dramatic increase of the width of the plasmonic absorption peak, which accounts for the experimental optical spectra observed by Kreibig.     

A structural and spectroscopic study on para-aminohippuric acid with experimental and theoretical approaches

In this work, the molecular conformation, vibrational and electronic analysis of para-aminohippuric acid (pAHA, C(9)H(10)N(2)O(3)) were presented for the ground state using experimental techniques (FT-IR, FT-Raman and UV) and density functional theory (DFT) employing B3LYP exchange correlation with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra were recorded in the regions of 400-4000cm(-1) and 50-4000cm(-1), respectively. The UV absorption spectra of the compound that dissolved in ethanol and water solution were recorded in the range of 190-400nm. Potential energy curve was computed by means of scanning NCCO torsion angle. The geometry optimization and the energies associated possible four conformers (C1-C4) were computed. The computational results diagnose the most stable conformer of pAHA as the C1 form. Optimized structure of compound was interpreted and compared with the earlier reported experimental values. The complete assignments of fundamental vibrations were performed on the basis of the total energy distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes, calculated with scaled quantum mechanics (SQM) method. A study on the electronic properties, such as frontier molecular energies, absorption wavelengths and oscillator strengths, were predicted by time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) approach, while taking solvent effects into account. To investigate non-linear optical properties: polarizability, anisotropy of polarizability and molecular first hyperpolarizability of molecule were computed. Thermodynamic properties (heat capacity, entropy and enthalpy) of the title compound at different temperatures were calculated.     

系列金化合物[X-{Au(PMe_3)}_2]的结构、电子光谱和非线性光学性质

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)B3LYP和BhandHLYP方法,对6个不同金化合物[X-{Au(PMe3)}2]的几何结构、电子光谱以及极化率和三阶非线性光学(NLO)效应进行了计算分析.本文采用的计算方法和基组适合所研究的对象,并发现用PMe3代替PPh3对分子整体结构影响不大.另外,分子桥连部分的空间效应对极化率有明显影响,对三阶极化率影响却不大.关于6个分子的三阶NLO性质,由于X部分的电子性质及共轭程度不同,分子1a的三阶极化率γ值最小,分子2a的γ值最大.通过分析电子光谱和对应的分子轨道组成可知,Au在分子1a中做电子给体,而在分子2a～6a中做电子受体,表明Au在此类化合物中对NLO性质的贡献不同.     

C50富勒烯及其二聚物C100、C101的光学性质

运用B3LYP方法在6-31G*基组水平上对C50富勒烯以及它的两个不同二聚物C100、C101的几何构型进行了全优化. 在优化所得构型的基础上, 采用TDB3LYP方法在3-21G*基组水平上对其激发态性质、电子吸收光谱进行了研究, 根据计算得到的态态间跃迁偶极矩和跃迁能等数据, 结合使用态求和公式进一步计算得到了它们不同光学过程中的三阶非线性极化率. 结果表明, 当C50富勒烯二聚以后, 其电子吸收光谱的最大波长吸收峰发生了明显的红移, 三阶非线性极化率有了较大的提高. 其中, [5,5]-[5,5]哑铃型二聚物C101有着比[2+2]闭环型二聚物C100更大的三阶非线性极化率.     

Theoretical study on a novel series of fullerene-containing organometallics Fe(eta5-C55X5)2 (X = CH, N, B) and their large third-order nonlinear optical properties

Geometry structures, electronic spectra, and third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of Fe(eta (5)-C 55X 5) 2 (X = CH, N, B) have first been investigated by time-dependent density functional theory. We analyzed the intramolecular interactions between ferrocene and the C 50 moiety. The calculated electronic absorption spectrum indicates that the short wavelength transitions are ascribed to the C 50 moiety mixed charge transfer transition of ferrocene itself, while the low energy excitation transitions are ascribed to the unique charge transfer transition from ferrocene to C 50 moiety in these systems. The third-order polarizability gamma values based on sum of states (SOS) method show that this class of ferrocene/fullerene hybrid molecule possesses a remarkably large third-order NLO response, especially for Fe(eta (5)-C 55B 5) 2 with the static third-order polarizability (gamma av) computed to be -10410 x 10 (-36) esu and the intrinsic second hypepolarizability to be 0.250. Thus, these complexes have the potential to be used for excellent third-order nonlinear optical materials. Analysis of the major contributions to the gamma av value suggest that the charge transfer from ferrocene to C 50 moiety along the z-axis (through Fe atom and the centers of two hybrid fullerenes) play the key role in the NLO response. Furthermore, boron substitution is an effective way of enhancing the optical nonlinearity compared to CH and N substitution, owing to smaller energy gap and better conjugation through the whole molecule.     

新型双重电荷转移分子的二阶非线性光学性质的 理论研究

以INDO/SCI方法为基础,按完全态求和(SOS)公式编制了计算分子二阶非线性光学系数β~i~j~k和β~μ的程序。研究了1,2-二氨基-4,5-二硝基苯1和其异构体1,3-二氨基-4,6-二硝基苯2的电子光谱和二阶非线性光学性质。计算表明分子1具有与分子2几乎相等的二阶非线性极化率。但由于分子1的偶极矩明显大于分子2的,故分子1的μβ值比分子2的μβ值大的多。在此基础上,研究了2,3-二(β-苯乙烯基)-5,6-二氰基吡嗪和2,3-二(β-噻吩乙烯基)-5,6-二氰基吡嗪和2,3-二(β-噻吩乙烯基)-5,6二氰基吡嗪衍生物的电子光谱和二阶非线性光学性质。结果表明,这些化合物均具有两个相距很近的强吸收峰,它们对β值的呈加和模式。由于这类化合物特征吸收峰均位于413nm以下且具有大的μβ值,所以,它们是一类很有前途的二阶非线性光学候选材料。