Determination of absolute configuration using density functional theory calculations of optical rotation and electronic circular dichroism: chiral alkenes

In principle, the absolute configuration (AC) of a chiral molecule can be deduced from its optical rotation (OR) and/or its electronic circular dichroism (ECD). In practice, this requires reliable methodologies for predicting OR and ECD. The recent application of ab initio time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) to the calculation of transparent spectral region OR and ECD has greatly enhanced the reliability with which these phenomena can be predicted. TDDFT calculations of OR and ECD are being increasingly utilized in determining ACs. Nevertheless, such calculations are not perfect, and as a result, ACs determined are not 100% reliable. In this paper, we examine the reliability of the TDDFT methods in the case of chiral alkenes. Sodium d line specific rotations, [alpha]D, are predicted for 26 conformationally rigid alkenes of known AC, ranging in size from 5 to 20 C atoms, and with [alpha]D values in the range of 0-500. The mean absolute deviation of predicted [alpha]D values from experimental values is 28.7. With one exception, beta-pinene, the signs of [alpha]D are correctly predicted. Errors in calculated [alpha]D values are approximately random. Our results define a "zone of indeterminacy" within which calculated [alpha]D values cannot be used to determine ACs with >95% confidence. TDDFT ECD spectra are predicted for eight of the alkenes and compared to experimental spectra. Agreement ranges from modestly good to poor, leading to the conclusion that TDDFT calculations of ECD spectra are not yet of sufficient accuracy to routinely provide highly reliable ACs. TDDFT OR calculations for two conformationally flexible alkenes, 3-tert-butylcyclohexene and trans-4-carene, are also reported. For the former, predicted rotations are incorrect in sign over the range 589-365 nm. It is possible that the AC of this molecule has been incorrectly assigned.     

Determination of absolute configuration using optical rotation calculated using density functional theory

[structure: see text] We report the first determinations of the absolute configurations (ACs) of chiral molecules using discrete frequency, transparent spectral region optical rotations calculated using density functional theory (DFT). The ACs of 2H-naphtho[1,8-bc]thiophene 1-oxide (3), naphtho[1,8-cd]-1,2-dithiole 1-oxide (4), and 9-phenanthryl methyl sulfoxide (5) are determined by comparison of their specific rotations to values calculated via the time-dependent DFT/gauge-invariant atomic orbital (TDDFT/GIAO) methodology using the B3LYP functional and the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set.     

Determination of the absolute configurations of natural products via density functional theory calculations of vibrational circular dichroism, electronic circular dichroism, and optical rotation: the iridoids plumericin and isoplumericin

The absolute configurations (ACs) of the iridoid natural products, plumericin (1) and isoplumericin (2), have been re-investigated using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy, and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD). Comparison of DFT calculations of the VCD spectra of 1 and 2 to the experimental VCD spectra of the natural products, (+)-1 and (+)-2, leads unambiguously to the AC (1R,5S,8S,9S,10S)-(+) for both 1 and 2. In contrast, comparison of time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations of the ECD spectra of 1 and 2 to the experimental spectra of (+)-1 and (+)-2 does not permit definitive assignment of their ACs. On the other hand, TDDFT calculations of the ORD of (1R,5S,8S,9S,10S)-1 and -2 over the range of 365-589 nm are in excellent agreement with the experimental data of (+)-1 and (+)-2, confirming the ACs derived from the VCD spectra. Thus, the ACs initially proposed by Albers-Sch?nberg and Schmid are shown to be correct, and the opposite ACs recently derived from the ECD spectra of 1 and 2 by Els?sser et al. are shown to be incorrect. As a result, the ACs of other iridoid natural products obtained by chemical correlation with 1 and 2 are not in need of revision.     

Comparison of time-dependent density-functional theory and coupled cluster theory for the calculation of the optical rotations of chiral molecules

A comparison of the abilities of time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) and coupled cluster (CC) theory to reproduce experimental sodium D-line specific rotations for 13 conformationally rigid organic molecules is reported. The test set includes alkanes, alkenes, and ketones with known absolute configurations. TDDFT calculations make use of gauge-including atomic orbitals and give origin-independent specific rotations. CC rotations are computed using both the origin-independent dipole-velocity and origin-dependent dipole-length representations. The mean absolute deviations of calculated and experimental rotations are of comparable magnitudes for all three methods. The origin-independent DFT and CC methods give the same sign of [alpha]D for every molecule except norbornanone. For every large-rotation ketone and alkene for which DFT and CC yield the incorrect sign as compared to liquid-phase experimental data, the corresponding optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) curve is bisignate, suggesting that the two models cannot reliably reproduce the relative excitation energies and antagonistic rotational strengths of multiple competing electronic states that contribute to the total long-wavelength rotation. Several potential sources of error in the theoretical treatments are considered, including basis set incompleteness, vibrational and temperature effects, electron correlation, and solvent effects.     

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.     

CAM‐B3LYP optical rotations at different wavelengths: Comparison with CCSD results

A hierarchical sequence of basis sets along with one long‐range corrected functional (CAM‐B3LYP) were used to calculate electronic optical rotations (OR) at three wavelengths (355.0, 589.3, and 633.0 nm) of 14 rigid chiral molecules whose experimental values are available in the literature. As the results showed to be sensitive to the basis set quality, complete basis set limits were estimated. Special attention was given to five particularly difficult compounds. In these cases, one verifies that vibrational corrections (taken from the literature) must be added to the CAM‐B3LYP equilibrium OR to correct signs. In general, the complete basis set limits reported in this work are in good agreement with the experimental data and with those obtained at a higher level of theory. For some compounds, solvent effects are taken into account by means of the polarizable continuum model. For the solvated systems, the dependence between OR and cavity size is also examined. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-methyloxime): A theoretical investigation

The molecular geometries and vibrational frequencies of the title compounds in the ground state are calculated using the Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) methods with the LANL2DZ basis set and compared with the experimental data. The calculated results show that the optimized geometries can well reproduce the crystal structural parameters, and the theoretical vibrational frequencies show good agreement with the experimental values. The energetic behavior of the title compounds in solvent media is examined using the B3LYP method with the LANL2DZ basis set by applying the Onsager and polarizable continuum model (PCM). In addition, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analyses of the title compounds are investigated by theoretical calculations.     

Determination of absolute configuration using density functional theory calculation of optical rotation: chiral alkanes

The recently developed Gauge-Invariant (Including) Atomic Orbital (GIAO) based Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) methodology for the calculation of transparent spectral region optical rotations of chiral molecules provides a new approach to the determination of absolute configurations. Here, we discuss the application of the TDDFT/GIAO methodology to chiral alkanes. We report B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations of the specific rotations of the 22 chiral alkanes, 2-23, of well-established Absolute Configuration. The average absolute deviation of calculated and experimental [alpha](D) values for molecules 2-22 is 24.8. In two of the molecules 2-23, trans-pinane, 10, and endo-isocamphane, 13, the sign of [alpha](D) is incorrectly predicted. Our results demonstrate that absolute configurations of alkanes can be reliably assigned by using B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ TDDFT/GIAO calculations if, but only if, [alpha](D) is significantly greater than 25. In the case of (-)-anti-trans-anti-trans-anti-trans-perhydrotriphenylene, 1, [alpha](D) is -93 and TDDFT/GIAO calculations reliably lead to the absolute configuration R(-).     

S-(-)-2,2′-联二萘酚衍生物的合成及其螺旋结构与旋光性的关系

以S-(-)-2,2’-联二萘酚为手性模板分子,合成出了它的两个七元环衍生物.通过对它们的旋光值、X衍射结构及构象的研究,找出了它们的螺旋结构与旋光性的关系,并对其族光大小进行了比较.此外,首次提出我们建立的螺旋片段判定规则及我们定义的ω值.     

（E）-1-[4-（2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzylideneamino）-phenyl]ethanone and （E）-1-[4-（2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylideneamino） phenyl]ethanone：X-ray and DFT-calculated structures

The isomeric structures of(E)-1-[4-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzylideneamino)-phenyl] ethanone(I) and(E)-1-[4-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylideneamino) phenyl]ethanone(Ⅱ) ,both C16H15NO3,have been determined using X-ray diffraction techniques and characterized by IR,and their molecular structures have also been optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level using density functional theory(DFT) . The energetic behaviors of the title compounds in solvent media have been examined using B3LYP method with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set by applying the polarizable continuum model(PCM) . The total energies of the title compounds decrease with the increasing polarity of the solvent. In addition,DFT calculations of the title compounds' molecular electrostatic potentials(MEP) were performed at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. X-ray study shows that the title compounds both have strong intramolecular O-H…N hydrogen bonds. The molecules of Ⅰ are linked into a one-dimensional framework structure by C-H…π interactions,while in Ⅱ,intermolecular π···π interactions result in the formation of infinite chains running along the [010].     

S-(-)-2, 2'-联二萘酚衍生物的合成及其螺旋结构与旋光性的关系

以S-(-)-2,2'-联二萘酚为手性模板分子,合成出了它的两个七元环衍生物。通过对它们的旋光值、X衍射结构及构象的研究,找出了它们的螺旋结构与旋光性的关系,并对其旋光大小进行了比较。此外,首次提出我们建立的螺旋片段判定规则及我们定义的ω值。     

Terpenoids—LX Absolute configuration of ar-turmerone

The absolute configuration of (+)ar-turmerone is shown to be II on the basis of the optical rotatory dispersion curve of the (+)hydrocarbon (VII) derived from it. The molecular rotations of the acid (III) and the alcohol (V) are in agreement with this conclusion.     

On the excited states involved in the luminescent probe [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+

The nature of the excited states of [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+ has been investigated using density functional theory with the hybrid functional B3LYP. The excitations were studied via linear response theory (TDDFT) and DeltaSCF calculations and the solvent effects were introduced by embedding the molecule in a continuum dielectric medium. It was found that the solvent effects are critical in understanding the nature of the excitations. For the molecule in ethanol, the lowest absorption predicted by TDDFT is a dark state 3pi --> pi with the electron and hole spread over the dppz ligand. Next come the excitations of 3MLCT between the ruthenium and the dppz and finally the 3MLCT excitations between the ruthenium and the bpy ligands not associated with the phenazine. Using deltaSCF calculations two low-lying excited states were identified and the geometry optimized in the presence of the continuum medium. At the optimal geometry the lowest excited state is 3MLCT (Ru --> dppz). The 3pi --> pi state is found only 0.026 eV higher.     

Spectroscopic and theoretical investigation of (R)-3-methylcyclopentanone. The effect of solvent and temperature on the distribution of conformers

Temperature-dependent electronic circular dichroism (CD) spectra are reported for (R)-(+)-3-methylcyclopentanone (R3MCP) in 34 solvents. Analysis of these data yielded the enthalpy and entropy differences between axial methyl and equatorial methyl conformers, the dominant conformers for R3MCP. The weakly absorbing n-->pi* transition exhibited a decrease in lambdamax as the solvent polarity increased. Vibrational CD fine structure of the n-->pi* transition was observed in the gas phase in addition to several of the solvents. Vapor-phase CD spectra were compared to both the solution-phase spectra and theoretical calculations of the axial and equatorial methyl conformers. Optical rotation (OR) measurements for R3MCP in cyclohexane solution in the visible region showed excellent agreement with OR DFT calculations of the equatorial and axial methyl conformers. Density functional calculations with B3LYP and the 6-13G* and aug-cc-pVDZ basis sets, which incorporate the solvent dielectric constant, yielded trends in thermodynamic quantities as a function of polarity and solvent dipole moments that are only weakly or not observed in experiments.     

Determination of the absolute configuration of [3(2)](1,4)barrelenophanedicarbonitrile using concerted time-dependent density functional theory calculations of optical rotation and electronic circular dichroism

The technique of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) has very recently been applied to the calculation of both transparent spectral region optical rotations and electronic circular dichroism (CD). Here, we report the concerted application of the new methodologies to the determination of the absolute configuration (AC) of [3(2)](1,4)barrelenophanedicarbonitrile, 1, the first optically active barrelenophane. 1 is conformationally flexible: the two three-carbon bridges of 1 can each exhibit two conformations, leading to three inequivalent conformations of 1: a, b, and c. Conformational structures and energies are predicted using DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G level. Comparison of the calculated structures to structures obtained via X-ray crystallography of (+)-1 shows that (remarkably) all three conformations a-c are simultaneously present in crystalline (+)-1. The sodium D line specific rotations, [alpha](D), and CD spectra of a-c are calculated using TDDFT at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level. Comparison of the conformationally averaged specific rotation and CD spectrum to the experimental data of Matsuda-Sentou and Shinmyozu leads to the AC 9S,12S(+)/9R,12R(-). The same AC is obtained both from [alpha](D) and from the CD, strongly supporting its reliability.     

A chemical/computational approach to the determination of absolute configuration of flexible and transparent molecules: aliphatic diols as a case study

By reacting flexible and optically transparent in UV-vis molecules such as 1,2-, syn- and anti-1,3-diols, 1,3-sulfanylalcohols of known absolute configuration (AC) with fluorenone dimethyl acetal, the corresponding ketals are obtained. They are conformationally well-defined (only one conformer in most cases) compounds exhibiting medium-high optical rotation (OR) values, which are independent of the solvent, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, which show several (up to five) Cotton effects in the 350-200 nm range due to valence shell pi-->pi* transitions. These features allow simulation of the chiroptical properties of these compounds at the TDDFT/B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory to obtain, using the known ACs of these compounds, a satisfactory reproduction of the OR values (sign and order of magnitude; quantitatively, the predicted values are twice the experimental ones), and a more than satisfactory reproduction of the ECD spectra (sign, intensity, and position of the lowest-energy four Cotton effects) for all the compounds studied. Therefore, this approach can be used to assign the AC of such flexible molecules, in particular, syn-1,3-diols, which are important substrates in organic synthesis and for which nonempirical methods of AC assignment have not been devised so far. Furthermore, since the fluorene chromophore leads to the presence of several Cotton effects from, say, 350 to 200 nm, their correct simulation of sign, intensity, and position is a guarantee of the correct assignment of AC: in this way, ECD spectroscopy gains the same advantages of VCD spectroscopy, that is, the need of reproducing many ECD bands and then a solid guarantee of a correct AC assignment.     

Solvent Effects on IR Modes of (R)-3-Methylcyclopentanone Conformers: A Computational Investigation

Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations of infrared spectra for the optimized geometries of the R-(+)-3-methylcyclopentanone (R3MCP) equatorial-methyl and axial-methyl conformers were performed in eleven common solvents with a wide polarity range, within the framework of polarizable continuum model (PCM). The DFT correlation function type B3LYP, using a powerful basis set (aug-cc-pVDZ), yielded different linear correlations between solvent polarity and R3MCP equatorial and axial conformers for frequencies of IR modes, intensities, and enthalpies. DFT calculations of the dipole moments of R3MCP equatorial and axial conformer components in 3D were also carried out and found to have a linear correlation with the solvent polarity. An increasing trend for the hypsochromic (blue) shift in the equatorial conformer??s IR frequencies is observed, in comparison to bathochromic (red) shift for the axial-methyl conformer IR modes, as a function of the solvent polarity.     

Theoretical studies of UO2(H2O)n(2+), NpO2(H2O)n(+), and PuO2(H2O)n(2+) complexes (n=4-6) in aqueous solution and gas phase

Extensive ab initio calculations both in gas phase and solution have been carried out to study the equilibrium structure, vibrational frequencies, and bonding characteristics of various actinyl (UO2(2+), NpO2(+), and PuO2(2+)) and their hydrated forms, AnO2(H2O)n(z+) (n=4, 5, and 6). Bulk solvent effects were studied using a continuum method. The geometries were fully optimized at the coupled-cluster singles + doubles (CCSD), density-functional theory (DFT), and M?ller-Plesset (MP2) level of theories. In addition vibrational frequencies have been obtained at the CCSD as well as MP2/DFT levels. The results show that both the short-range and long-range solvent effects are important. The combined discrete-continuum model, in which the ionic solute and the solvent molecules in the first and second solvation shells are treated quantum mechanically while the solvent is simulated by a continuum model, can predict accurately the bonding characteristics. Moreover, our values of solvation free energies suggest that five- and six-coordinations are equally preferred for UO2(2+), and five-coordinated species are preferred for NpO2(+) and PuO2(2+). On the basis of combined quantum-chemical and continuum treatments of the hydrated complexes, we are able to determine the optimal cavity radii for the solvation models. The coupled-cluster computations with large basis sets were employed for the vibrational spectra and equilibrium geometries both of which compare quite favorably with experiment. Our most accurate computations reveal that both five- and six-coordination complexes are important for these species.     

Theoretical study on the chiroptical optical properties of chiral fullerene C60 derivative

Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations have been used to investigate UV/CD spectra and nonlinear optical (NLO) property of the C(60)-fullerene bisadduct (R,R,(f,s)A)-[CD(+)280] for the first time. The electron transition natures of the four main measured bands are analyzed, and their results are used to designate the excited states involved in an electron-transfer process of the studied compound. On a comparative scale, the predicted excitation energies and oscillator strengths are in reasonable agreement with the observed values, demonstrating the efficiency of TDDFT in predicting the localized and charge transfer transitions. The good agreement between the experimental and the simulated CD spectra shows that TDDFT calculations can be used to assign the absolute configurations (ACs) of chiral fullerene C(60) derivatives with high confidence. The observed large dissymmetry ratio g (g = Δε/ε) at about 700 nm results from the orbital characters of the local fullerene excited state, which leads to large transition magnetic dipole moment and small transition electronic dipole moment. The different functionals and solvent effects on UV/CD spectra were also considered. The studied compound has a possibility to be an excellent second-order NLO material from the standpoint of transparency and large second-order polarizability value.     

Optical rotation calculated with time-dependent density functional theory: the OR45 benchmark

Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) computations are performed for 42 organic molecules and three transition metal complexes, with experimental molar optical rotations ranging from 2 to 2 × 10(4) deg cm(2) dmol(-1). The performances of the global hybrid functionals B3LYP, PBE0, and BHLYP, and of the range-separated functionals CAM-B3LYP and LC-PBE0 (the latter being fully long-range corrected), are investigated. The performance of different basis sets is studied. When compared to liquid-phase experimental data, the range-separated functionals do, on average, not perform better than B3LYP and PBE0. Median relative deviations between calculations and experiment range from 25 to 29%. A basis set recently proposed for optical rotation calculations (LPol-ds) on average does not give improved results compared to aug-cc-pVDZ in TDDFT calculations with B3LYP. Individual cases are discussed in some detail, among them norbornenone for which the LC-PBE0 functional produced an optical rotation that is close to available data from coupled-cluster calculations, but significantly smaller in magnitude than the liquid-phase experimental value. Range-separated functionals and BHLYP perform well for helicenes and helicene derivatives. Metal complexes pose a challenge to first-principles calculations of optical rotation.