Synthesis of the Natural Product Building Block 5‐(3‐Bromophenyl)‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methylhexan‐2‐one and its Chiral Characterization by Using Chiroptical Spectroscopy

The absolute configuration of 5‐(3‐bromophenyl)‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methylhexan‐2‐one, an intermediate in the synthesis of various natural products, is assigned by using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD). Experimental spectra were compared to density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the molecule with known configuration. These three techniques independently confirm that the absolute configuration is (S)‐5‐(3‐bromophenyl)‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methylhexan‐2‐one, thus enabling us to assign the absolute configuration with high reliability. The reliability of the VCD analysis was assessed quantitatively by using the CompareVOA program. We found that, in cases in which the agreement between theory and experiment was very good, a value of 10 cm^?1 for the triangular weighting function gave a more‐realistic discriminative power between enantiomers than the default value of 20 cm^?1.     

A soleil-babinet compensator based Raman optical activity spectrometer: interpretation of roa couplets in (+)-(3R)-methylcyclohexanone

The Raman optical activity (ROA) spectrum of (+)-(3R)-methylcyclohexanone from 150 to 1400 cm⁻¹ measured using a novel ROA spectrometer is reported. The spectrometer features a Soleil-Babinet compensator to produce high-quality circularly polarized laser radiation. The principal ROA couplets are assigned and interpreted in terms of pairs of coupled vibrational motions.     

Prediction of Raman Optical Activity Spectra of Chiral 3‐Acetylcamphorato‐Cobalt Complexes

We examine calculated vibrational Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra of octahedral cobalt complexes containing different combinations of acetylacetonato and 3‐acetylcamphorato ligands. Starting from the Δ‐tris(acetylacetonato)cobalt(III) complex, the ROA spectra of isomers generated by successive replacement of acetylacetonato ligands by chiral (+)‐ or (?)‐3‐acetylcamphorato ligands are investigated. In this way, it is possible to assess the influence of the degree of ligand substitution, ligand chirality, and geometrical isomerism on the ROA spectra. In addition, the effect of the Λ‐configuration is studied. It is found that the ROA spectra contain features that make it possible to identify each of the isomers, demonstrating the great sensitivity of ROA spectroscopy to the chiral nature of the various complexes.     

Computational Interpretation of Vibrational Optical Activity: The ROA Spectra of (4S)‐4‐Methylisochromane and the (4S)‐Isomers of Galaxolide®

The reliable computation of Raman‐optical‐activity (ROA) spectra of molecules of the size of the title compounds has, until now, not been possible. We show that our rarefied basis sets yield results in good agreement with the experimental data for (4S)‐4‐methylisochromane (=(4S)‐3,4‐dihydro‐4‐methyl‐1H‐2‐benzopyran; 1 ), provided the equilibrium between the pseudo‐equatorial and the pseudo‐axial conformers is taken into account. Comparison between the measured and the computed ROA back‐scattering spectra allows the unequivocal assignment of the absolute configuration of the molecule. Comparison with more‐approximate calculations for the larger (4S)‐isomers of Galaxolide^® ( 2 ), which contain the (4S)‐4‐methylisochromane moiety, shows large‐scale group frequencies on the same chiral fragments of the two molecules. The data confirm that ROA can be generated by interactions extending over several bonds, i.e., over larger distances than can be probed by NMR spectroscopy. Thus, the absolute configuration at C(7) of Galaxolide^® is assignable independently of that at C(4). The computation of ROA for forward‐scattering, which will soon be measurable for Galaxolide^®, suggests that this scattering geometry provides additional stereochemical information that will be valuable in situations where absolute configurations at several stereogenic centers have to be assigned.     

Experimental and ab initio theoretical vibrational Raman optical activity of alanine

The vibrational Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra of l-alanine in water, 1 N NaOH and 1 N HCl between 720 and 1500 cm⁻¹ measured in backscattering are reported. Unlike the associated vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), the main ROA features are relatively insensitive to pH changes. Ab initio Raman and ROA intensities were evaluated using 6-31G and 6-31G* basis sets and found to agree remarkably well with the experimental parameters in the lower-frequency region.     

Molecular Structure,Vibrational Spectra,and Hydrogen Bonding of the Ionic Liquid 1‐Ethyl‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolium Tetrafluoroborate

The IR and Raman spectra and conformations of the ionic liquid 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [EMIM] [BF₄] ( 6 ), were analyzed within the framework of scaled quantum mechanics (SQM). It was shown that SQM successfully reproduced the spectra of the ionic liquid. The computations revealed that normal modes of the EMIM⁺?BF ion pair closely resemble those of the isolated ions EMIM⁺ and BF , except for the antisymmetric BF stretching vibrations of the anion, and the out‐of‐plane and stretching vibrations of the H? C(2) moiety of the cation. The most plausible explanation for the pronounced changes of the latter vibrations upon ion‐pair formation is the H‐bonding between H? C(2) and BF . However, these weak H‐bonds are of minor importance compared with the Coulomb interactions between the ions that keep them closely associated even in dilute CD₂Cl₂ solutions. According to the ‘gas‐phase’ computations, in these associates, the BF anion is positioned over the imidazolium ring of the EMIM⁺ cation and has short contacts not only with the H? C(2) of the latter, but also with a proton of the Me? N(3) group.     

1‐Carboxymethyl‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium chloride 2‐(3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium‐1‐yl)acetate monohydrate: a crystal stabilized by imidazolium zwitterions

The title compound, C₆H₉N₂O₂⁺·Cl⁻·C₆H₈N₂O₂·H₂O, contains one 2‐(3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium‐1‐yl)acetate inner salt molecule, one 1‐carboxymethyl‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium cation, one chloride ion and one water molecule. In the extended structure, chloride anions and water molecules are linked via O—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, forming an infinite one‐dimensional chain. The chloride anions are also linked by two weak C—H...Cl interactions to neighbouring methylene groups and imidazole rings. Two imidazolium moieties form a homoconjugated cation through a strong and asymmetric O—H...O hydrogen bond of 2.472 (2) Å. The IR spectrum shows a continuous D‐type absorption in the region below 1300 cm⁻¹ and is different to that of 1‐carboxymethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride [Xuan, Wang & Xue (2012). Spectrochim. Acta Part A, 96 , 436–443].     

4‐Aminopyridinium 2‐(anthracen‐9‐yl)‐3‐oxo‐3H‐inden‐1‐olate monohydrate

The title compound, 2C₅H₇N₂⁺·2C₂₃H₁₃O₂⁻·H₂O, formed as a by‐product in the attempted synthesis of a nonlinear optical candidate molecule, contains two independent 4‐aminopyridinium cations and 2‐(anthracen‐9‐yl)‐3‐oxo‐3H‐inden‐1‐olate anions with one solvent water molecule. This is the first reported structure containing these anions. The two anions are not planar, having different interplanar angles between the anthracenyl and inden‐1‐olate moieties of 59.07 (5) and 83.92 (5)°. The crystal packing, which involves strong classical hydrogen bonds and one C—H...π interaction, appears to account for both the nonplanarity and this difference.     

Benzodifuran‐containing well‐defined π‐conjugated polymers for photovoltaic cells

Two well‐defined alternating π‐conjugated polymers containing a soluble electroactive benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]difuran (BDF) chromophore, poly(BDF‐(9‐phenylcarbazole)) (PBDFC), and poly(BDF‐benzothiadiazole) (PBDFBTD) were synthesized via Sonogashira copolymerizations. Their optical, electrochemical, and field‐effect charge transport properties were characterized and compared with those of the corresponding homopolymer PBDF and random copolymers of the same overall composition. All these polymers cover broad optical absorption ranges from 250 to 750 nm with narrow optical band gaps of 1.78–2.35 eV. Both PBDF and PBDFBTD show ambipolar redox properties with HOMO levels of ?5.38 and ?5.09 eV, respectively. The field‐effect mobility of holes varies from 2.9 × 10^?8 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in PBDF to 1.0 × 10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in PBDFBTD. Bulk heterojunction solar cell devices were fabricated using the polymers as the electron donor and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester as the electron acceptor, leading to power conversion efficiencies of 0.24–0.57% under air mass 1.5 illumination (100 mW cm^?2). These results indicate that their band gaps, molecular electronic energy levels, charge mobilities, and molecular weights are readily tuned by copolymerizing the BDF core with different π‐conjugated units. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Kinetics of the ene reactions of 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione with β‐pinene and 2‐carene: Temperature,high pressure,and solvent effects

The data on temperature, solvent, and high hydrostatic pressure influence on the rate of the ene reactions of 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione ( 1 ) with 2‐carene ( 2 ), and β‐pinene ( 4 ) have been obtained. Ene reactions 1 + 2 and 1 + 4 have high heat effects: ∆H_r‐n ( 1 + 2 ) −158.4, ∆H_r‐n( 1 + 4 ) −159.2 kJ mol⁻¹, 25°C, 1,2‐dichloroethane. The comparison of the activation volume (∆V^≠( 1 + 2 ) −29.9 cm³ mol⁻¹, toluene; ∆V^≠( 1 + 4 ) −36.0 cm³ mol⁻¹, ethyl acetate) and reaction volume values (∆V_r‐n( 1 + 2 ) −24.0 cm³ mol⁻¹, toluene; ∆V_r‐n( 1 + 4 ) −30.4 cm³ mol⁻¹, ethyl acetate) reveals more compact cyclic transition states in comparison with the acyclic reaction products 3 and 5 . In the series of nine solvents, the reaction rate of 1+2 increases 260‐fold and 1+4 increases 200‐fold, respectively, but not due to the solvent polarity.     

Supramolecular complexes of poly(3‐Hexylthiophene)‐block (and random)‐poly[3‐(2‐(6‐carboxyhexyl)methyl)thiophene] copolymers with perylene bisimide

Block and random copolymers of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly[3‐(2‐(6‐carboxyhexyl)methyl)thiophene] with side‐chain carboxylic functionality ((P3HT‐b‐P3COOH) and (P3HT‐r‐P3COOH) were developed by Grignard Metathesis (GRIM) polymerization. The carboxylic functionality was introduced in the side chain via the oxazoline route. Both the block and random polythiophene copolymers were complexed with pyridine functionalized perylene bisimide to obtain supramolecular block and random polymer complexes. The complex formation in both systems was confirmed by ¹H NMR, WXRD and SAXS studies. An expansion of d spacing upon complex formation was observed in both the block and random copolymer, which could be traced by WXRD. Hole and electron mobilities measured for the supramolecular complexes indicated values which were higher by an order of magnitude for the supramolecular block complex (μ_h ≈ 2.9 × 10⁻⁴ cm²/Vs; μ_e ≈ 3.1 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/Vs) as compared to the random (μ_h ≈ 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ cm²/Vs; μ_e ≈ 4.7 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/Vs) copolymer. These results are indicative of the higher degree of disorder prevailing in the films of random copolymer system compared to the block copolymer. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1574–1583     

Vibrational Sum‐Frequency Generation Activity of a 2,4‐Dinitrophenyl Phospholipid Hybrid Bilayer: Retrieving Orientational Parameters from a DFT Analysis of Experimental Data

The vibrational nonlinear activity of films of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl phospholipid (DNP) at the solid interface is measured by sum‐frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG). Hybrid bilayers are formed by a Langmuir–Schaefer approach in which the lipid layer is physisorbed on top of a self‐assembled monolayer of dodecanethiol on Pt with the polar heads pointing out from the surface. The SFG response is investigated in two vibrational frequency domains, namely, 3050–2750 and 1375–1240 cm^?1. The first region probes the CH stretching modes of DNP films, and the latter explores the vibrational nonlinear activity of the 2,4‐dinitroaniline moiety of the polar head of the lipid. Analysis of the CH stretching vibrations suggests substantial conformational order of the aliphatic chains with only a few gauche defects. To reliably assign the detected SFG signals to specific molecular vibrations, DFT calculations of the IR and Raman activities of molecular models are performed and compared to experimental solid‐state spectra. This allows unambiguous assignment of the observed SFG vibrations to molecular modes localized on the 2,4‐dinitroaniline moiety of the polar head of DNP. Then, SFG spectra of DNP in the 1375–1240 cm^?1 frequency range are simulated and compared with experimental ones, and thus the 1,4‐axis of the 2,4‐dinitrophenyl head is estimated to have tilt and rotation angles of 45±5° and 0±30°, respectively.     

Thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione‐Based Small Molecules for Highly Efficient Solution‐Processed Organic Solar Cells

Two small molecules named BT‐TPD and TBDT‐TTPD with a thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (TPD) unit were designed and synthesized for solution‐processed bulk‐heterojunction solar cells. Their thermal, electrochemical, optical, charge‐transport, and photovoltaic characteristics were investigated. These compounds exhibit strong absorption at 460–560 nm and low highest occupied molecular orbital levels (?5.36 eV). Field‐effect hole mobilities of these compounds are 1.7–7.7×10^?3 cm² V^?1 s^?1. Small‐molecule organic solar cells based on blends of these donor molecules and a acceptor display power conversion efficiencies as high as 4.62 % under the illumination of AM 1.5G, 100 mW cm^?2.     

Structure determination of three furan‐substituted benzimidazoles and calculation of π–π and C—H...π interaction energies

The synthesis and structural characterization of 2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole [C₁₆H₁₂N₂O₂, (I)], 2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium chloride monohydrate [C₁₆H₁₃N₂O₂⁺·Cl⁻·H₂O, (II)] and the hydrobromide salt 5,6‐dimethyl‐2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium bromide [C₁₈H₁₇N₂O₂⁺·Br⁻, (III)] are described. Benzimidazole (I) displays two sets of aromatic interactions, each of which involves pairs of molecules in a head‐to‐tail arrangement. The first, denoted set (Ia), exhibits both intermolecular C—H...π interactions between the 2‐(furan‐2‐yl) (abbreviated as Fn) and 1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl) (abbreviated as MeFn) substituents, and π–π interactions involving the Fn substituents between inversion‐center‐related molecules. The second, denoted set (Ib), involves π–π interactions involving both the benzene ring (Bz) and the imidazole ring (Im) of benzimidazole. Hydrated salt (II) exhibits N—H...OH₂...Cl hydrogen bonding that results in chains of molecules parallel to the a axis. There is also a head‐to‐head aromatic stacking of the protonated benzimidazole cations in which the Bz and Im rings of one molecule interact with the Im and Fn rings of adjacent molecules in the chain. Salt (III) displays N—H...Br hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions involving inversion‐center‐related benzimidazole rings in a head‐to‐tail arrangement. In all of the π–π interactions observed, the interacting moieties are shifted with respect to each other along the major molecular axis. Basis set superposition energy‐corrected (counterpoise method) interaction energies were calculated for each interaction [DFT, M06‐2X/6‐31+G(d)] employing atomic coordinates obtained in the crystallographic analyses for heavy atoms and optimized H‐atom coordinates. The calculated interaction energies are −43.0, −39.8, −48.5, and −55.0 kJ mol⁻¹ for (Ia), (Ib), (II), and (III), respectively. For (Ia), the analysis was used to partition the interaction energies into the C—H...π and π–π components, which are 9.4 and 24.1 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Energy‐minimized structures were used to determine the optimal interplanar spacing, the slip distance along the major molecular axis, and the slip distance along the minor molecular axis for 2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazole.     

Understanding the Signatures of Secondary‐Structure Elements in Proteins with Raman Optical Activity Spectroscopy

A prerequisite for the understanding of functional molecules like proteins is the elucidation of their structure under reaction conditions. Chiral vibrational spectroscopy is one option for this purpose, but provides only indirect access to this structural information. By first‐principles calculations, we investigate how Raman optical activity (ROA) signals in proteins are generated and how signatures of specific secondary‐structure elements arise. As a first target we focus on helical motifs and consider polypeptides consisting of twenty alanine residues to represent α‐helical and 3₁₀‐helical secondary‐structure elements. Although ROA calculations on such large molecules have not been carried out before, our main goal is the stepwise reconstruction of the ROA signals. By analyzing the calculated ROA spectra in terms of rigorously defined localized vibrations, we investigate in detail how total band intensities and band shapes emerge. We find that the total band intensities can be understood in terms of the reconstructed localized vibrations on individual amino acid residues. Two different basic mechanisms determining the total band intensities can be established, and it is explained how structural changes affect the total band intensities. The band shapes can be rationalized in terms of the coupling between the localized vibrations on different residues, and we show how different band shapes arise as a consequence of different coupling patterns. As a result, it is demonstrated for the chiral variant of Raman spectroscopy how collective vibrations in proteins can be understood in terms of well‐defined localized vibrations. Based on our calculations, we extract characteristic ROA signatures of α helices and of 3₁₀‐helices, which our analysis directly relates to differences in secondary structure.     

Investigation of (1R,2S)‐(−)‐Ephedrine by Cryogenic Terahertz Spectroscopy and Solid‐State Density Functional Theory

The terahertz (THz) spectrum of the pharmaceutical (1R,2S)‐(?)‐ephedrine from 8.0 to 100.0 cm^?1 is investigated at liquid‐nitrogen (78.4 K) temperature. The spectrum exhibits several distinct features in this range that are characteristic of the crystal form of the compound. A complete structural analysis and vibrational assignment of the experimental spectrum is performed using solid‐state density functional theory (DFT) and cryogenic single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Theoretical modeling of the compound includes an array of density functionals and basis sets with the final assignment of the THz spectrum performed at a PW91/6‐311G(d,p) level of theory, which provides excellent solid‐state simulation agreement with experiment. The solid‐state analysis indicates that the seven experimental spectral features observed at low temperature consist of 13 IR‐active vibrational modes. Of these modes, nine are external crystal vibrations and provide approximately 57 % of the predicted spectral intensity. This study demonstrates that the THz spectra of complex pharmaceuticals may be well reproduced by solid‐state DFT calculations and that inclusion of the crystalline environment is necessary for realistic and accurate simulations.     

β‐Carotene Revisited by Transient Absorption and Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy

β‐Carotene in n‐hexane was examined by femtosecond transient absorption and stimulated Raman spectroscopy. Electronic change is separated from vibrational relaxation with the help of band integrals. Overlaid on the decay of S₁ excited‐state absorption, a picosecond process is found that is absent when the C₉‐methyl group is replaced by ethyl or isopropyl. It is attributed to reorganization on the S₁ potential energy surface, involving dihedral angles between C₆ and C₉. In Raman studies, electronic states S₂ or S₁ were selected through resonance conditions. We observe a broad vibrational band at 1770 cm^?1 in S₂ already. With 200 fs it decays and transforms into the well‐known S₁ Raman line for an asymmetric C=C stretching mode. Low‐frequency activity (<800 cm^?1) in S₂ and S₁ is also seen. A dependence of solvent lines on solute dynamics implies intermolecular coupling between β‐carotene and nearby n‐hexane molecules.     

Intensity‐Carrying Modes in Raman and Raman Optical Activity Spectroscopy

We describe a quantum‐chemical approach for the determination of modes with maximum Raman and Raman optical activity (ROA) intensity by maximizing the intensities with respect to the Raman and Raman optical activity intensity, respectively, which is shown to lead to eigenvalue equations. The intensity‐carrying modes are in general hypothetical modes and do not directly correspond to a certain normal mode in the spectrum. However, they provide information about those molecular distortions leading to intense bands in the spectrum. Modes with maximum Raman intensity are presented for propane‐1,3‐dione, propane‐1,3‐dionate, and Λ‐tris(propane‐1,3‐dionato)cobalt(III). Moreover, the mode with highest ROA intensity is examined for this chiral cobalt complex and also for the (chiral) amino acid L ‐tryptophan. The Raman and ROA high‐intensity modes are an optimal starting guess for intensity‐tracking calculations, in which selectively normal modes with high Raman or ROA intensity are converged. We present the first Raman and ROA intensity‐tracking calculations. These reveal a high potential for large molecules, for which the selective calculation of normal modes with high intensity is desirable in view of the large computational effort required for the calculation of Raman and ROA polarizability property tensors.     

Hexa‐μ‐chloro‐μ4‐oxo‐tetrakis{[5‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)pyrazole‐κN2]copper(II)}

The title compound, [Cu₄Cl₆O(C₁₂H₁₄N₂)₄], is a new example of the well known [Cu₄(μ₄‐O)(μ‐X)₆L₄] class of complex (X⁻ is Cl⁻, Br⁻ or I⁻, and L is a monodentate ligand). The molecule has crystallographic C₂ symmetry, with two Cl⁻ ions on each edge of a Cu₄ tetrahedron. Two of these, on opposite edges of the tetrahedron, accept intramolecular hydrogen bonds from two of the pyrazole N—H donors.     

Gold(III) Complexes of Asymmetrically Aryl‐Substituted 1,2‐Dithiolene Ligands Featuring Potential‐Controlled Spectroscopic Properties: An Insight into the Electronic Properties of bis(Pyren‐1‐yl‐ethylene‐1,2‐dithiolato)Gold(III)

The electrochemical, UV/Vis–NIR absorption, and emission‐spectroscopic features of (TBA⁺)( 1 ⁻) and the corresponding neutral complex 1 were investigated (TBA⁺=tetrabutylammonium; 1 ⁻=[Au^III(Pyr,H‐edt)₂]⁻; Pyr,H‐edt²⁻=pyren‐1‐yl‐ethylene‐1,2‐dithiolato). The intense electrochromic NIR absorption (λ_max=1432 nm; ε=13000 M ⁻¹ cm⁻¹ in CH₂Cl₂) and the potential‐controlled visible emission in the range 400–500 nm, the energy of which depends on the charge of the complex, were interpreted on the grounds of time‐dependent DFT calculations carried out on the cis and trans isomers of 1 , 1 ⁻, and 1 ²⁻. In addition, to evaluate the nonlinear optical properties of 1 ^x− (x=0, 1), first static hyperpolarizability values β_tot were calculated (β_tot=78×10⁻³⁰ and 212×10⁻³⁰ esu for the cis isomer of 1 ⁻ and 1 , respectively) and compared to those of differently substituted [Au(Ar,H‐edt)₂]^x− gold dithiolenes [Ar=naphth‐2‐yl ( 2 ), phenyl ( 3 ); x=0, 1].