A Valence Photoelectron Imaging Investigation of Chiral Asymmetry in the Photoionization of Fenchone and Camphor

Photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) is investigated in the valence ionization of selected fenchone enantiomers using a photoelectron imaging technique and circularly polarized synchrotron radiation. Theoretical modelling of the results using electron scattering calculations demonstrates that the observed chiral asymmetry in the photoelectron angular distributions depends strongly upon the final state scattering, and upon the quality of the molecular potential used for these calculations. However, very pronounced dependence on the orbital from which ionization occurs is also observed. Comparison with analogous results previously obtained for camphor reveals striking differences in the PECD, even when the ionizing orbitals are themselves left substantially unaffected by the changes in methyl groups’ substitution site. PECD measurements readily differentiate these molecules despite their very similar photoelectron spectra, demonstrating PECD to be a structurally sensitive probe.     

Photoelectron circular dichroism in core level ionization of randomly oriented pure enantiomers of the chiral molecule camphor

The inner-shell photoionization of unoriented camphor molecules by circularly polarized light has been investigated from threshold to a photoelectron kinetic energy of approximately 65 eV. Photoelectron spectra of the carbonyl C 1s orbital, recorded at the magic angle of 54.7 degrees with respect to the light propagation direction, show an asymmetry of up to 6% on change of either the photon helicity or molecular enantiomer. These observations reveal a circular dichroism in the angle resolved emission with an asymmetry between forward and backward scattering (i.e., 0 degrees and 180 degrees to the light beam) which can exceed 12%. Since the initial state is an atomiclike spherically symmetric orbital, this strongly suggests that the asymmetry is caused by final-state effects dependent on the chiral geometry of the molecule. These findings are confirmed by electron multiple scattering calculations of the photoionization dynamics in the electric-dipole approximation.     

Asymmetric electrophilic amination of various carbon nucleophiles with enantiomerically pure chiral N-h oxaziridines derived from camphor and fenchone

The first two stable enantiomerically pure chiral N-H oxaziridines, derived from camphor and fenchone, are shown to act as electrophilic sources of nitrogen upon reaction with various carbon nucleophiles. Nitrogen is transferred, together with the camphor/fenchone unit, when deprotonated esters, malonates, and nitriles are used as nucleophiles. One of the ester or nitrile units in the substrate usually undergoes hydrolysis; a cyclic mechanism is proposed to account for this observation.     

Complex formation of fenchone with α-cyclodextrin: NMR titrations

¹³C NMR titration studies of inclusion complexes of bicyclic terpenoid, fenchone enantiomers with α-cyclodextrin revealed their 1:2 guest–host stoichiometry. Sequential binding constants were determined indicating a strong binding cooperativity of two α-cyclodextrin to fenchone. The overall association constants were used to calculate the Gibbs free energies of diastereomeric complex formation, which might be used as a measure of chiral recognition of fenchone by α-cyclodextrin. These results were compared with corresponding data derived for camphor, which is an isomeric bicyclic terpenoid.     

Observation of Photoelectron Circular Dichroism Using a Nanosecond Laser

Photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) is a fascinating phenomenon both from a fundamental science aspect but also due to its emerging role as a highly sensitive analytic tool for chiral recognition in the gas phase. PECD has been studied with single-photon as well as multi-photon ionization. The latter has been investigated in the short pulse limit with femtosecond laser pulses, where ionization can be thought of as an instantaneous process. In this contribution, we demonstrate that multi-photon PECD still can be observed when using an ultra-violet nanosecond pulse to ionize chiral showcase fenchone molecules. Compared to femtosecond ionization, the magnitude of PECD is similar, but the lifetime of intermediate molecular states imprints itself in the photoelectron spectra. Being able to use an industrial nanosecond laser to investigate PECD furthermore reduces the technical requirements to apply PECD in analytical chemistry.     

Polarizable continuum model study of solvent effects on electronic circular dichroism parameters

We present an implementation of the polarizable continuum model for the calculation of solvent effects on electronic circular dichroism spectra. The computational model used is density functional theory in the length-gauge formulation, and gauge-origin independence is ensured through the use of London atomic orbitals. Results of calculations carried out for methyloxirane and bicyclic ketones, camphor, norcamphor, norbornenone, and fenchone are presented, and the theoretically obtained solvent effects are compared with experimental observations.     

Enantiomeric Excess Sensitivity to Below One Percent by Using Femtosecond Photoelectron Circular Dichroism

Photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) is experimentally investigated with chiral specimens with varying amounts of enantiomeric excess (ee). As a prototype, we measure and analyze the photoelectron angular distribution from randomly oriented fenchone molecules in the gas phase that result from ionization with circularly polarized femtosecond laser pulses. The quantification of these measurements shows a linear dependence with respect to the ee values. In addition, differences in the ee values (denoted as detection limit) of below one percent can be distinguished for nearly enantiopure samples, as well as for almost racemates. In combination with the use of a reference, the assignment of absolute ee values is possible. The present measurement time is a few minutes, but this could be reduced. This table‐top laser‐based approach should facilitate widespread implementation in chiral analysis.     

Determination of chiral asymmetries in the valence photoionization of camphor enantiomers by photoelectron imaging using tunable circularly polarized light

An electron imaging technique has been used to study the full angular distribution of valence photoelectrons produced from enantiomerically pure molecular beams of camphor when these are photoionized with circularly polarized light. In addition to the familiar beta parameter, this provides a new chiral term, taking the form of an additional cosine function in the angular distribution which consequently displays a forward-backward electron ejection asymmetry. Several ionization channels have been studied using synchrotron radiation in the 8.85-26 eV photon energy range. With alternating left and right circularly polarized radiations the photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) in the angular distribution can be measured and shows some strong dynamical variations with the photon energy, depending in sign and intensity on the ionized orbital. For all orbitals the measured PECD has a quite perfect antisymmetry when switching between R and S enantiomers, as expected from theory. In the HOMO(-1) channel the PECD chiral asymmetry curves show a double maxima reaching nearly 10% close to threshold, and peaking again at approximately 20% some 11 eV above threshold. This is attributed to a resonance that is also visible in the beta parameter curve. Newly optimized CMS-Xalpha photoionization dynamics calculations are also presented. They are in reasonably good agreement with the experimental data, including in the very challenging threshold regions. These calculations show that PECD in such randomly oriented samples can be understood in the electric dipole approximation and that, unlike the case pertaining in core-shell ionization-where a highly localized achiral initial orbital means that the dichroism arises purely as a final state scattering effect-in valence shell ionization there is a significant additional influence contributed by the initial orbital density.     

Conformational Sensitivity in Photoelectron Circular Dichroism of 3‐Methylcyclopentanone

A study of (R)‐3‐methylcyclopentanone [(R)‐3‐MCP] by photoelectron spectroscopy and photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) is presented. The synchrotron radiation gas‐phase photoelectron spectra of (R)‐3‐MCP were measured and are discussed on the basis of different theoretical methodologies. The experimental dichroism of (R)‐3‐MCP for selected deconvoluted valence states and for the carbonyl carbon 1s core state are reported and reproduced well by calculated dispersions generated by considering the contributions of two different conformers. The theoretical dichroic parameters are calculated by employing a multicentre basis set of B‐spline functions and a Kohn–Sham Hamiltonian. Temperature‐dependent PECD studies of the HOMO state and the carbonyl carbon 1s core level allowed the separation of the contributions of each conformer by photoelectron dichroism. This new approach clearly shows how the PECD methodology is sensitive to conformational and structural changes of unoriented (R)‐3‐MCP in the gas phase, opening up new perspectives in the characterisation of chiral molecular systems.     

Photoelectron Circular Dichroism of Bicyclic Ketones from Multiphoton Ionization with Femtosecond Laser Pulses

Photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) is a CD effect up to the ten‐percent regime and shows contributions from higher‐order Legendre polynomials when multiphoton ionization is compared to single‐photon ionization. We give a full account of our experimental methodology for measuring the multiphoton PECD and derive quantitative measures that we apply on camphor, fenchone and norcamphor. Different modulations and amplitudes of the contributing Legendre polynomials are observed despite the similarity in chemical structure. In addition, we study PECD for elliptically polarized light employing tomographic reconstruction methods. Intensity studies reveal dissociative ionization as the origin of the observed PECD effect, whereas ionization of the intermediate resonance is dominating the signal. As a perspective, we suggest to make use of our tomographic data as an experimental basis for a complete photoionization experiment and give a prospect of PECD as an analytic tool.     

Stereochemical analysis of constituents of essential oils and flavor compounds by enantioselective capillary gas chromatography

Modified cyclodextrins interact enantioselectively with a great variety of volatile chiral constituents of essential oils by forming diastereomeric inclusion complexes. Capillary gas chromatography is used for resolving the enantiomers of terpenoid hydrocarbons (camphene, α-pinene, limonene, α-phellandrene), carbonyl compounds (carvone, fenchone, menthone, isomenthone, piperitone, camphor, myrtenal), and alcohols (trifluoroacetylated β-citronellol, myrtenol, trans-pinocarveol, 1-octen-3-ol, and underivatized linalool). The enantiomeric composition of some of these compounds in a variety of essential oils is investigated.     

Theoretical study on the circular dichroism in core and valence photoelectron angular distributions of camphor enantiomers

In the present work the photoelectron circular dichroism of camphor has been theoretically studied using B-spline and continuum multiple scattering-Xalpha methods, and comparisons are made with available experimental data. In general, rather large dichroism effects have been found for both valence and core (O 1s, C 1s) photoionizations. The agreement between the two calculations reported here and previous experimental measurements for core C 1s data is essentially quantitative. For valence ionization satisfactory agreement between theory and experiment has been obtained and the discrepancies have been attributed to both exchange-correlation potential limitations and the absence of response effects in the adopted formalism. The calculations predict, moreover, important features in the cross-section profiles, which have been discussed in terms of dipole-prepared continuum orbitals.     

A synthesis of dioctanoyl phosphatidylinositol

A synthesis of the naturally occurring enantiomer of phosphatidylinositol is reported. A resolution strategy, using camphor as a chiral auxiliary is employed to obtain the desired, enantiomerically pure, inositol derivative. Dioctanoyl lipid chains are appended to the molecule, which are shorter than the naturally occurring lipid chains, providing the molecule with enhanced water solubility.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the tropospheric reactions of menthol, borneol, fenchol, camphor, and fenchone with hydroxyl radicals (OH) and chlorine atoms (Cl)

Relative kinetic techniques have been used to measure the rate coefficients for the reactions of oxygenated terpenes (menthol, borneol, fenchol, camphor, and fenchone) and cyclohexanol with hydroxyl radicals (OH) and chlorine atoms (Cl) at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure. The rate coefficients obtained for the reactions of the title compounds with OH are the following (in units of 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): (1.48 ± 0.31), (2.65 ± 0.32), (2.49 ± 0.30), (0.38 ± 0.08), (0.39 ± 0.09) for menthol, borneol, fenchol, camphor, and fenchone, respectively. For the corresponding reactions with Cl atoms the rate coefficients are as follows (in units of 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): (3.21 ± 0.26), (3.40 ± 0.28), (2.72 ± 0.13), (2.93 ± 0.17), (1.59 ± 0.10), and (1.86 ± 0.29) for cyclohexanol, menthol, borneol, fenchol, camphor, and fenchone, respectively. The reported error is twice the standard deviation. Product studies of the reactions were performed using multipass in situ FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with analysis by GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). A detailed mechanism is proposed to justify the observed reaction products.     

Circular dichroism in the photoelectron angular distributions of camphor and fenchone from multiphoton ionization with femtosecond laser pulses

Shine a light: a circular dichroism effect in the ±10?% regime on randomly oriented chiral molecules in the gas phase is demonstrated. The signal is derived from images of photoelectron angular distributions produced by resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization and allows the enantiomers to be distinguished. To date, this effect could only be generated with a synchrotron source. The new tabletop laser-based approach will make this approach far more accessible.     

Circular dichroism in the angle-resolved C 1s photoemission spectra of gas-phase carvone enantiomers

The inner-shell C 1s photoionization of randomly oriented molecules of the chiral compound carvone has been investigated using circularly polarized synchrotron radiation up to 30 eV above threshold. Binding energies of the C=O and CH2= carbon 1s orbitals were determined to be 292.8+/-0.2 and 289.8+/-0.2 eV, respectively. The remaining C-H C 1s levels substantially overlap under an intense central peak centered at 290.5+/-0.2 eV. The angle-resolved photoemission from the carbonyl carbon C=O core orbital in pure carvone enantiomers shows a pronounced circular dichroism of approximately 6% at the magic angle of 54.7 degrees to the light beam propagation direction. This corresponds to an expected 0 degrees -180 degrees forward-backward electron emission asymmetry of approximately 10%. On changing between the R and S enantiomers of carvone the sense or sign of the asymmetry and associated dichroism effectively reverses. The observed circular dichroism, and its energy dependence, is well accounted for by calculations performed in the pure electric dipole approximation.     

Determination of the enantiomeric purity of epinephrine by HPLC with circular dichroism detection

Several hundred drug substances approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are chiral molecules. For the enantiomeric purity assessment, current practice is to develop separation techniques using chiral columns or mobile phase modifiers to separate enantiomers before detection. An alternative approach is to use currently accepted HPLC assay methods and use chiral-specific detectors to confirm whether the correct enantiomer is present. In this paper, adding a circular dichroism (CD) detector to an achiral HPLC method from the US Pharmacopeia (USP) is shown to be amenable for the determination of the enantiomeric purity of epinephrine, a substance used to treat anaphylaxis. This HPLC-UV-CD approach was able to detect the inactive D-(+) enantiomer at 1% of the total epinephrine composition. The linearity, accuracy, and precision of HPLC-UV-CD were evaluated and compared to analyses using a chiral HPLC method. Additionally, an epinephrine drug product was analyzed for assay (concentration) and enantiomeric purity. The results from achiral and chiral methods were identical within the experimental error. Overall, achiral chromatography performed using a USP method with CD detection may serve as a general means of determining chiral drug enantiomer purity and avoids the need for the development of additional chiral-specific methods for each individual drug.     

Time-dependent density functional calculations of optical rotatory dispersion including resonance wavelengths as a potentially useful tool for determining absolute configurations of chiral molecules

The optical rotations for six organic molecules (verbenone, fenchone, camphor, nopinone, Tr?ger's base, dimethyl-cyclopropane) and the transition metal complex [Co(en)(3)](3+) were calculated as a function of wavelength using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). In the calculations, a realistic behavior of the optical rotation in the vicinity of an electronic transition was obtained by using a phenomenological damping parameter of the order of 0.2 eV (0.007 au). In comparison with experiment, for the molecules studied here the sign and order of magnitude of the optical rotation as well as the excitation energies were reasonably well reproduced in most computations. These findings apply to the investigated wavelength ranges typically between about 200 and 650 nm even when using comparatively small basis sets. Such calculations might therefore routinely be applied to help assigning the absolute configurations of chiral molecules. Supplementary calculations of the circular dichroism (CD) and comparison with experimental CD were used for further assessment of the optical rotation calculations. In particular, a combined study of optical rotation and CD turned out to be useful in cases where the optical rotatory dispersion in a specific energy range exhibits a considerable blue or red shift or where it is difficult to reproduce because of an interplay of several competing Cotton effects. The influence of basis set, density functional, and the damping parameter was also investigated.     

高效液相色谱圆二色检测技术在手性化合物分析中的应用

对近年来高效液相色谱圆二色检测技术在手性化合物分析中的应用进展进行综述,简单介绍了高效液相色谱圆二色检测器的原理和特点,着重介绍了非手性色谱条件下圆二色检测技术在手性化合物对映体纯度测定、复杂基质中手性化合物分析以及在手性化合物绝对构型测定中的应用,并讨论了它的应用前景。     

Chiral signatures in angle-resolved valence photoelectron spectroscopy of pure glycidol enantiomers

Photoionization of the chiral molecule glycidol has been investigated in the valence region. Photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) curves have been obtained at various photon energies by using circularly polarized VUV synchrotron radiation and a velocity map imaging technique to record angle-resolved photoelectron spectra (PES). The measured chiral asymmetries vary dramatically with the photon energy as well as with the ionized orbital, improving the effective orbital resolution of the PECD spectrum with respect to the PES. Typical asymmetry factors of 5% are observed, but the peak values measured range up to 15%. The experimental results are interpreted by continuum multiple scattering (CMS-Xalpha) calculations for several thermally accessible glycidol conformers. We find that a nearly quantitative agreement between theory and experiments can be achieved for the ionization of several molecular orbitals. Owing to the sensitivity of PECD to molecular conformation this allows us to identify the dominant conformer. The influence of intramolecular hydrogen bond orbital polarization is found to play a small yet significant role in determining the chiral asymmetry in the electron angular distributions.