Chiral self-assembly of enantiomerically pure (4S,7R)-campho[2,3-c]pyrazole in the solid state: a vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and computational study

NH-Indazoles in solid phase usually form NH?N hydrogen bonds between positions 1 and 2, which determine the secondary structure, forming dimers, trimers, or catemers (chains). Thus, the difficulty of the experimental analysis of the structure of the family of 1H-indazoles is clear. We have outlined a complete strategy by using different techniques of vibrational spectroscopy that are sensitive (VCD) and not sensitive (IR, FarIR, and Raman) to the chirality together with quantum chemical calculations. We have studied the chiral structure of (4S,7R)-campho2,3-c]pyrazole both in solution (CCl₄) and in the solid phase (crystal). This compound crystallizes as a chiral trimer (LABHEB), with the monomer also being chiral. Herein, Far-IR, IR, and Raman spectra in solution and in the solid state are assigned using the support of B3LYP/6-31G(d) and B97D/6-31+G(d,p) calculations of (4S,7R)-campho2,3-c]pyrazole monomers, dimers, and trimers, these last cyclamers being partially and fully optimized. Later, analysis of the vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra allowed us to determine the chiral self-assembly of (4S,7R)-campho2,3-c]pyrazole crystals (LABHEB). In the crystal, only the trimers are present while in solution, the monomer predominates. We have highlighted the importance of the analysis of the low frequency region (700–25 cm^?1) in the FT-Raman and Far-IR spectra, because it provides relevant information in order to confirm the presence of the trimers in the solid phase.