Chirality transfer through hydrogen-bonding: experimental and ab initio analyses of vibrational circular dichroism spectra of methyl lactate in water

The infrared vibrational absorption (VA) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of methyl lactate were measured in the 1000-1800 cm(-1) region in the CCl(4) and H(2)O solvents, respectively. In particular, the chirality transfer effect, i.e. the H-O-H bending bands of the achiral water subunits that are hydrogen-bonded to the methyl lactate molecule exhibit substantial VCD strength, was detected experimentally. A series of density functional theory calculations using B3PW91 and B3LYP functionals with 6-311++G(d,p) and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets were carried out to simulate the VA and VCD spectra of the methyl lactate monomer and the methyl lactate-(H(2)O)(n) complexes with n = 1, 2, 3. The population weighted VA and VCD spectra of the methyl lactate monomer are in good agreement with the experimental spectra in CCl(4). Implicit polarizable continuum model was found to be inadequate to account for the hydrogen-bonding effect in the observed VA and VCD spectra in H(2)O. The methyl lactate-(H(2)O)(n) complexes with n = 1, 2, 3 were used to model the explicit hydrogen-bonding. The population weighted VA and VCD spectra of the methyl lactate-H(2)O binary complex are shown to capture the main spectral features in the observed spectra in aqueous solution. The theoretical modeling shows that the extent of chirality transfer depends sensitively on the specific binding sites taken by the achiral water molecules. The observation of chirality transfer effect opens a new spectral window to detect and to model the hydrogen-bonding solvent effect on VCD spectra of chiral molecules.     

Vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy of two chiral binaphthyl diphosphine ligands and their palladium complexes in solution

BINAP (2,2'-diphenylphosphino-1,1'-binaphthyl) is a unique binaphthyl diphosphine ligand with axial chirality. The palladium complexes of BINAP and of its derivative TOLBINAP have found extensive applications in the field of asymmetric syntheses. The conformational changes in the BINAP and TOLBINAP ligands before and after coordination with palladium have been investigated using density functional theory, vibrational absorbance (VA) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy. VA and VCD spectra of these two chiral ligands and their corresponding palladium complexes have been recorded in CDCl(3) solution. Extensive conformational searches have been carried out for both the ligands and the associated palladium complexes. Coordination with palladium has been found to introduce structural rigidity to the ligands. The calculated VA and VCD spectra of the ligands and complexes in the gas phase show substantial differences to the experimental data. Incorporation of the implicit polarisable continuum solvation model has provided much better agreement between theory and experiment, especially for the complexes, allowing clear identification of the species and conformations. This and the high specificity of VCD spectral signatures to chirality and to conformations suggest the potential applications of VCD spectroscopy for following these important catalytic species in solution reactions directly.     

Vibrational Circular Dichroism and Theoretical Study of the Conformational Equilibrium in (−)‐S‐Nicotine

We report an extensive study of the molecular and electronic structure of (?)‐S‐nicotine, to deduce the phenomenon that controls its conformational equilibrium and to solve its solution‐state conformer population. Density functional theory, ab initio, and molecular mechanics calculations were used together with vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies. Calculations and experiments in solution show that the structure and the conformational energy profile of (?)‐S‐nicotine are not strongly dependent on the medium, thus suggesting that the conformational equilibrium is dominated by hyperconjugative interactions rather than repulsive electronic effects. The analysis of the first recorded VCD spectra of (?)‐S‐nicotine confirmed the presence of two main conformers at room temperature. Our results provide further evidence of the hypersensitivity of vibrational optical activity spectroscopies to the three‐dimensional structure of chiral samples and prove their suitability for the elucidation of solution‐state conformer distribution.     

A configurational and conformational study of aframodial and its diasteriomers via experimental and theoretical VA and VCD spectroscopies

In this work we present the experimental and theoretical vibrational absorption (VA) and the theoretical vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra for aframodial. In addition, we present the theoretical VA and VCD spectra for the diasteriomers of aframodial. Aframodial has four chiral centers and hence has 2⁴ = 16 diasteriomers, which occur in eight pairs of enantiomers. In addition to the four chiral centers, there is an additional chirality due to the helicity of the entire molecule, which we show by presenting 12 configurations of the 5S,8S,9R,10S enantiomer of aframodial. The VCD spectra for the diasteriomers and the 12 configurations of one enantiomer are shown to be very sensitive not only to the local stereochemistry at each chiral center, but in addition, to the helicity of the entire molecule. Here one must be careful in analyzing the signs of the VCD bands due to the ‘non-chiral’ chromophores in the molecule, since one has two contributions; one due to the inherent chirality at the four chiral centers, and one due to the chirality of the side chain groups in specific conformers, that is, its helicity. Theoretical simulations for various levels of theory are compared to the experimental VA recorded to date. The VCD spectra simulations are presented, but no experimental VCD and Raman spectra have been reported to date, though some preliminary VCD measurements have been made in Stephens’ lab in Los Angeles. The flexible side chain is proposed to be responsible for the small size of the VCD spectra of this molecule, even though the chiral part of the molecule is very rigid and has four chiral centers. In addition to VCD and Raman measurements, Raman optical activity (ROA) measurements would be very enlightening, as in many cases bands which are weak in both the VA and VCD, may be large in the Raman and/or ROA spectra. The feasibility of using vibrational spectroscopy to monitor biological structure, function and activity is a worthy goal, but this work shows that a careful theoretical analysis is also required, if one is to fully utilize and understand the experimental results. The reliability, reproduceability and uniqueness of the vibrational spectroscopic experiments and the information which can be gained from them is discussed, as well as the details of the computation of VA, VCD and Raman (and ROA) spectroscopy for molecules of the complexity of aframodial, which have multiple chiral centers and flexible side chains. Festschrift in Honor of Philip J. Stephens’ 65th Birthday.     

Electronic Structure and Circular Dichroism of Natural Alboatisins Isolated from Aerial Parts of Isodon Albopilosus: DFT and TDDFT Study

The stable conformations of a series of bioactive molecules, (?)-alboatisins A?C, are identified via Monte Carlo searching with the MMFF94 molecular mechanics force field. Then, the optical rotation (OR) values, vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra were calculated using the gradient-corrected density functional theory method. The vibrational and transition modes of molecular chirality were explored in terms of their microscopic origin. The calculated specific rotations are in agreement with the experimental values. From the OR analysis, it was concluded that optical rotation values areregulated by hydroxyl substitution. Vibrations occurring on the chiral skeleton may cause strong absorption in VCD spectra; VCD spectra are thus the spectral response to deformation vibrations on the chiral carbon skeleton. The lowest-energy negative Cotton effect is caused by σ→π^* transition. Frontier molecular orbital analysis showed that strong ECD absorptions are produced when the dominant transition on the chiral skeleton is asymmetric; ECD spectra show the result of transitions lacking asymmetry on the chiral skeleton.     

Comparison of the Electronic and Vibrational Optical Activity of a Europium(III) Complex

The geometry and the electronic structure of chiral lanthanide(III) complexes are traditionally probed by electronic methods, such as circularly polarised luminescence (CPL) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy. The vibrational phenomena are much weaker. In the present study, however, significant enhancements of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and Raman optical activity (ROA) spectral intensities were observed during the formation of a chiral bipyridine–Eu^III complex. The ten‐fold enhancement of the vibrational absorption and VCD intensities was explained by a charge‐transfer process and the dominant effect of the nitrate ion on the spectra. A much larger enhancement of the ROA and Raman intensities and a hundred‐fold increase of the circular intensity difference (CID) ratio were explained by the resonance of the λ=532 nm laser light with the ⁷F₀ → ⁵D₀ transitions. This phenomenon is combined with a chirality transfer, and mixing of the Raman and luminescence effects involving low‐energy ⁷F states of europium. The results thus indicate that the vibrational optical activity (VOA) may be a very sensitive tool for chirality detection and probing of the electronic structure of Eu^III and other coordination compounds.     

A Chiral Recognition System Orchestrated by Self‐Assembly: Molecular Chirality,Self‐Assembly Morphology,and Fluorescence Response

The newly developed oligophenylenevinylene (OPV)‐based fluorescent (FL) chiral chemosensor (OPV‐Me) for the representative enantiomeric guest, 1,2‐cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (1,2‐CHDA: RR ‐ and SS ‐form) showed the high chiral discrimination ability, resulting in the different aggregation modes of OPV‐Me self‐assembly: RR ‐CHDA directed the fibrous supramolecular aggregate, whereas SS ‐CHDA directed the finite aggregate. The consequent FL intensity toward RR ‐CHDA was up to 30 times larger than that toward SS ‐CHDA. Accordingly, highly enantioselective recognition was achieved. Application to the chirality sensing was also possible: OPV‐Me exhibited a linear relationship between the FL intensity and the enantiomeric excess through the morphological development of stereocomplex aggregates. These results clearly show that the chiral recognition ability is manifested by the amplification cascade of the chirality difference through self‐assembly.     

A Chiral Recognition System Orchestrated by Self‐Assembly: Molecular Chirality,Self‐Assembly Morphology,and Fluorescence Response

The newly developed oligophenylenevinylene (OPV)‐based fluorescent (FL) chiral chemosensor (OPV‐Me) for the representative enantiomeric guest, 1,2‐cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (1,2‐CHDA: RR ‐ and SS ‐form) showed the high chiral discrimination ability, resulting in the different aggregation modes of OPV‐Me self‐assembly: RR ‐CHDA directed the fibrous supramolecular aggregate, whereas SS ‐CHDA directed the finite aggregate. The consequent FL intensity toward RR ‐CHDA was up to 30 times larger than that toward SS ‐CHDA. Accordingly, highly enantioselective recognition was achieved. Application to the chirality sensing was also possible: OPV‐Me exhibited a linear relationship between the FL intensity and the enantiomeric excess through the morphological development of stereocomplex aggregates. These results clearly show that the chiral recognition ability is manifested by the amplification cascade of the chirality difference through self‐assembly.     

Evidence of Dihydrogen Bonding of a Chiral Amine–Borane Complex in Solution by VCD Spectroscopy

IR and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of a chiral amine–borane in solution are investigated. By comparison of experimental and calculated spectra, unique VCD spectral signatures, which can be attributed to the formation of dihydrogen‐bonded dimers in solution, are identified for the first time. These VCD features are highly sensitive to the specific dihydrogen‐bonding topologies utilized by the chiral amine–borane subunits and thus provide direct structural information of these dihydrogen‐bonded species in solution. Differences in the dihydrogen binding arrangements in solution and in solid state are also revealed.     

Conformational flexibility of Corey lactone derivatives indicated by absorption and vibrational circular dichroism spectra

Infrared absorption and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of four Corey lactone derivatives (diol, benzoate, p-phenylbenzoate, and bisbenzoate) were measured and analyzed on the basis of ab initio computations. The analysis interpreted most of the spectral features as well as the differences among individual compounds. Despite the common rigid lactone residue, conformational behaviors and spectral features of the derivatives were found to be different, because of hydrogen bonding and solvent effects. Recognition of common molecular parts in the spectra of different molecules increases the potential of using VCD for monitoring the purity of intermediates in chiral syntheses. For the derivatives, a conserved spectral component corresponding to the lactone skeleton could be identified on the basis of theoretical analysis but was relatively weak in intensity.     

Interplay of Exciton Coupling and Large‐Amplitude Motions in the Vibrational Circular Dichroism Spectrum of Dehydroquinidine

A detailed analysis of the computed structure, energies, vibrational absorption (VA) and circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of 30 low‐energy conformers of dehydroquinidine reveals the existence of families of pseudo‐conformers, the structures of which differ mostly in the orientation of a single O?H bond. The pseudo‐conformers in a family are separated by very small energy barriers (i.e., 1.0 kcal mol^?1 or smaller) and have very different VCD spectra. First, we demonstrate the unreliable character of the Boltzmann factors predicted with DFT. Then, we show that the large differences observed between the VCD spectra of the pseudo‐conformers in a family are caused by large‐amplitude motions involving the O?H bond, which trigger the appearance/disappearance of strong VCD exciton‐coupling bands in the fingerprint region. This interplay between exciton coupling and large‐amplitude‐motion phenomena demonstrates that when dealing with flexible molecules with polar bonds, vibrational averaging of VCD spectra should not be neglected. In this regard, the dehydroquinidine molecule considered here is expected to be a typical example and not the exception to the rule.     

Synthesis and Stereochemical Assignment of Crypto‐Optically Active 2H6‐Neopentane

The determination of the absolute configuration of chiral molecules is at the heart of asymmetric synthesis. Here we probe the spectroscopic limits for chiral discrimination with NMR spectroscopy in chiral aligned media and with vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy of the sixfold‐deuterated chiral neopentane. The study of this compound presents formidable challenges since its stereogenicity is only due to small mass differences. For this purpose, we selectively prepared both enantiomers of ²H₆‐ 1 through a concise synthesis utilizing multifunctional intermediates. While NMR spectroscopy in chiral aligned media could be used to characterize the precursors to ²H₆‐ 1 , the final assignment could only be accomplished with VCD spectroscopy, despite the fleetingly small dichroic properties of 1 . Both enantiomers were assigned by matching the VCD spectra with those computed with density functional theory.     

Hierarchical Self‐Assembly in Liquid‐Crystalline Block Copolymers Enabled by Chirality Transfer

Helical topological structures are often found in chiral biological systems, but seldom in synthesized polymers. Now, controllable microphase separation of amphiphilic liquid‐crystalline block copolymers (LCBCs) consisting of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) and hydrophobic azobenzene‐containing poly(methylacrylate) is combined with chirality transfer to fabricate helical nanostructures by doping with chiral additives (enantiopure tartaric acid). Through hydrogen‐bonding interactions, chirality is transferred from the dopant to the aggregation, which directs the hierarchical self‐assembly in the composite system. Upon optimized annealing condition, helical structures in film are fabricated by the induced aggregation chirality. The photoresponsive azobenzene mesogens in the LCBC assist photoregulation of the self‐assembled helical morphologies. This allows the construction and non‐contact manipulation of complicated nanostructures.     

Effects of electron configuration and coordination number on the vibrational circular dichroism spectra of metal complexes of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane

Transition metal complexes of ethylenediamine have attracted significant interest as prototype systems for a range of studies related to their chiroptical properties. In order to better elucidate the effects of different central metal ions and also different coordination numbers on the vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra, trans-1,2-diamino cyclohexane (chxn) was chosen as the chiral ligands in the current report. In this case the conformation of the diamino ligand is predetermined by its absolute configuration and the transition from the λ- to the δ-form that can occur in the case of ethylenediamine is no longer possible. The fingerprint region of the vibrational absorption and VCD spectra of three transition metal complexes of chxn have been analysed in detail. For the tris chelate complexes Ni(chxn)(3)(2+) and Cu(chxn)(3)(2+), selective enhancement of some VCD bands in the otherwise almost identical spectra has been observed and explained in terms of a ring current mechanism and of a different number of unpaired electrons of the metal centers. The comparison of the VCD spectra of Cu(chxn)(3)(2+) and Cu(chxn)(2)(2+) reveals the effects of coordination number that manifest as an inversion of the strong bisignate VCD pattern of the NH(2) scissor vibrational modes. This leads to the conclusion that this region can be used to extract information about the ligand environment and the chirality of the metal center.     

Conformational Distributions of N‐Acetyl‐L‐cysteine in Aqueous Solutions: A Combined Implicit and Explicit Solvation Treatment of VA and VCD Spectra

The conformational distributions of N‐acetyl‐L ‐cysteine (NALC) in aqueous solutions at several representative pH values are investigated using vibrational absorption (VA), UV/Vis, and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy, together with DFT and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The experimental VA and UV/Vis spectra of NALC in water are obtained under strongly acid, neutral, and strongly basic conditions, as well as the VCD spectrum at pH 7 in D₂O. Extensive searches are carried out to locate the most stable conformers of the protonated, neutral, deprotonated, and doubly deprotonated NALC species at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level. The inclusion of the polarizable continuum model (PCM) modifies the geometries and the relative stabilities of the conformers noticeably. The simulated PCM VA spectra show significantly better agreement with the experimental data than the gas‐phase ones, thus allowing assignment of the conformational distributions and dominant species under each experimental condition. To further properly account for the discrepancies noted between the experimental and simulated VCD spectra, PCM and the explicit solvent model are utilized. MD simulations are used to aid the modelling of the NALC–(water)_N clusters. The geometry optimization, harmonic frequency calculations, and VA and VCD intensities are computed for the NALC–(water)_3,4 clusters at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level without and with the PCM. The inclusion of both explicit and implicit solvation models at the same time provides a decisively better agreement between theory and experiment and therefore conclusive information about the conformational distributions of NALC in water and hydrogen‐bonding interactions between NALC and water molecules.     

Three Types of Induced Tryptophan Optical Activity Compared in Model Dipeptides: Theory and Experiment

The tryptophan (Trp) aromatic residue in chiral matrices often exhibits a large optical activity and thus provides valuable structural information. However, it can also obscure spectral contributions from other peptide parts. To better understand the induced chirality, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), and Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra of Trp‐containing cyclic dipeptides c‐(Trp‐X) (where X=Gly, Ala, Trp, Leu, nLeu, and Pro) are analyzed on the basis of experimental spectra and density functional theory (DFT) computations. The results provide valuable insight into the molecular conformational and spectroscopic behavior of Trp. Whereas the ECD is dominated by Trp π–π* transitions, VCD is dominated by the amide modes, well separated from minor Trp contributions. The ROA signal is the most complex. However, an ROA marker band at 1554 cm^?1 indicates the local χ₂ angle value in this residue, in accordance with previous theoretical predictions. The spectra and computations also indicate that the peptide ring is nonplanar, with a shallow potential so that the nonplanarity is primarily induced by the side chains. Dispersion‐corrected DFT calculations provide better results than plain DFT, but comparison with experiment suggests that they overestimate the stability of the folded conformers. Molecular dynamics simulations and NMR results also confirm a limited accuracy of the dispersion‐DFT model in nonaqueous solvents. Combination of chiral spectroscopies with theoretical analysis thus significantly enhances the information that can be obtained from the induced chirality of the Trp aromatic residue.     

Sol-gel phase transition of brucine-appended porphyrin gelator: a study by vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy

A novel approach to study the sol-gel phase transition of a brucine–porphyrin based gelator, which uses vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy, is described. The gelation process leading to highly ordered chiral supramolecular assemblies was investigated in various solvents at the different temperatures and concentrations. The VCD spectra sensitively reveal the specific parts of molecule whose configuration is influenced by a sol-gel phase transition and chiral supramolecular aggregation and therefore indicate the parts of the molecule responsible for the chiral self-assembly formation. Temperature stability of the organogel studied is discussed on the basis of the VCD and IR absorption spectra. The scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize the structure of brucine–porphyrin conjugate in the gel phase.     

Lamellar‐Twisting‐Induced Circular Dichroism of Chromophore Moieties in Banded Spherulites with Evolution of Homochirality

Banded spherulites are formed by crystallization of a chiral polymer that is end‐capped with chromophore. Induced circular dichroism (ICD) of the chromophore can be found in the crystallized chiral polymers, giving exclusive optical response of the ICD. The ICD signals are presumed to be driven by the lamellar twisting in the crystalline spherulites, and the exclusive optical activity is attributed to the chirality transfer from molecular level to macroscopic level. To verify the suggested mechanism, the sense of the lamellar twisting in the crystalline spherulite is determined using PLM for the comparison with the ICD signals of the chromophore in the electron circular dichroism spectrum. The conformational chirality of the chiral polymer is determined by the vibrational circular dichroism spectrum. On the basis of the chiroptical results, evolution of homochirality from helical polymer chains (conformational chirality) to lamellar twisting in the banded spherulite (hierachical chirality) is suggested.     

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.     

Lactic acid in solution: investigations of lactic acid self-aggregation and hydrogen bonding interactions with water and methanol using vibrational absorption and vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopies

The infrared vibrational absorption (VA) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectral features of L-(+)-lactic acid (LA) in CDCl3 solution are concentration dependent, showing evidence of oligomerization with increasing concentrations. To understand the observed spectra, geometry optimizations, vibrational frequencies, and VA and VCD intensities were evaluated for (LA)n with n=1-4 using density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP6-311++G(d,p), B3LYP/cc-pVTZ, and in some cases, B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ levels of theory. Comparisons with the experimental spectra indicate that the lowest energy LA dimer (AA), formed by two C Double Bond O...HO hydrogen bonds, is one of the dominating species in solution at room temperature. Possible contributions from the LA trimer and tetramer are also discussed. To model the VA and VCD spectra of LA in water and in methanol, both implicit polarizable continuum model and explicit hydrogen bonding considerations were used. For explicit hydrogen bonding, geometry optimizations of the AA-(water)n and AA-(methanol)n complexes, with n=2,4,6, were performed, and the corresponding VA and VCD spectra were simulated. Comparisons of the calculated and experimental VA and VCD spectra in the range of 1000-1800 cm(-1) show that AA-(water)n with n=6 best reproduces the experimental spectra in water. On the other hand, AA-(methanol)n with n=2 reproduces well the experimental results taken in methanol solution. In addition, we found evidence of chirality transfer, i.e., some vibrational bands of the achiral water subunits gain VCD strength upon complexation with the chiral LA solute. The study is the first to use VCD spectroscopy to probe the structures of LA aggregates and hydrogen bonding solvation clusters in the solution phase.