A vibrational circular dichroism implementation within a Slater-type-orbital based density functional framework and its application to hexa- and hepta-helicenes

We describe the implementation of the rotational strengths for vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) in the Slater-type orbital based Amsterdam Density Functional (ADF) package. We show that our implementation, which makes use of analytical derivative techniques and London atomic orbitals, yields origin independent rotational strengths. The basis set dependence in the particular case of Slater-type basis functions is also discussed. It turns out that the triple zeta STO basis sets with one set of polarization functions (TZP) are adequate for VCD calculations. The origin- dependence of the atomic axial tensors is checked by a distributed origin gauge implementation. The distributed and common origin gauge implementations yield virtually identical atomic axial tensors with the Slater-type basis sets employed here, proving that our implementation yields origin independent rotational strengths. We verify the implementation for a set of benchmark molecules, for which the dependence of the VCD spectra on the particular choice of the exchange–correlation functional is studied. The pure functionals BP86 and OLYP show a particularly good performance. Then, we apply this approach to study the VCD spectra of hexa- and hepta- helicenes. In particular we focus on relationships between the sign of the rotational strengths of the two helicenes

On the Equivalence of Conformational and Enantiomeric Changes of Atomic Configuration for Vibrational Circular Dichroism Signs

We study systematically the vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of the conformers of a simple chiral molecule, with one chiral carbon and an “achiral” alkyl substituent of varying length. The vibrational modes can be divided into a group involving the chiral center and its direct neighbors and the modes of the achiral substituent. Conformational changes that consist of rotations around the bond from the next-nearest neighbor to the following carbon, and bond rotations further in the chain, do not affect the modes around the chiral center. However, conformational changes within the chiral fragment have dramatic effects, often reversing the sign of the rotational strength. The equivalence of the effect of enantiomeric change of the atomic configuration and conformational change on the VCD sign (rotational strength) is studied. It is explained as an effect of atomic characteristics, such as the nuclear amplitudes in some vibrational modes as well as the atomic polar and axial tensors, being to a high degree determined by the local topology of the atomic configuration. They reflect the local physics of the electron motions that generate the chemical bonds rather than the overall shape of the molecule

Understanding Solvent Effects in Vibrational Circular Dichroism Spectra: [1,1′-Binaphthalene]-2,2′-diol in Dichloromethane, Acetonitrile, and Dimethyl Sulfoxide Solvents

We present a combined experimental and computational investigation of the vibrational absorption (VA) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of [1,1′-binaphthalene]-2,2′-diol. First, the sensitive dependence of the experimental VA and VCD spectra on the solvent is demonstrated by comparing the experimental spectra measured in CH₂Cl₂, CD₃CN, and DMSO-<i>d</i>₆ solvents. Then, by comparing calculations performed for the isolated solute molecule to calculations performed for molecular complexes formed between solute and solvent molecules, we identify three main types of perturbations that affect the shape of the VA and VCD spectra when going from one solvent to another. These sources of perturbations are (1) perturbation of the Boltzmann populations, (2) perturbation of the electronic structure, and (3) perturbation of the normal modes

A VCD robust mode analysis of induced chirality: the case of pulegone in chloroform

Vibrational modes in an achiral molecule may acquire rotational strength by complexation to a chiral molecule, as happens for achiral solvent molecules complexed to a chiral solute. We investigate this transfer of chirality in vibrational circular dichroism for the pulegone molecule in CDCl3 solvent from the point of view of the robustness concept introduced recently. It turns out that the transfer of chirality yields non-robust modes, which means that, although they are observed in VCD experiments, the sign of these modes cannot be predicted reliably with standard (DFT) VCD calculations. This limits the usefulness of the induced chirality phenomenon for obtaining information on the intermolecular interactions that give rise to it

The Importance of Large-Amplitude Motions for the Interpretation of Mid-Infrared Vibrational Absorption and Circular Dichroism Spectra: 6,6′-Dibromo-[1,1′-binaphthalene]-2,2′-diol in Dimethyl Sulfoxide

Using the 6,6′-dibromo-[1,1′-binaphthalene]-2,2′-diol molecule and its vibrational absorption (VA) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra measured in deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide as example, we present a first detailed study of the effects induced in VCD spectra by the large-amplitude motions of solvent molecules loosely bound to a solute molecule. We show that this type of perturbation can induce significant effects in the VA and VCD spectra. We also outline a computational procedure that can effectively model the effects induced in the spectra and at the same time provide detailed structural information regarding the relative orientations of moieties involved in a solute–solvent molecular complex

Vibrational Circular Dichroism of Thiolate-Protected Au25 Clusters: Accurate Prediction of Spectra and Chirality Transfer within the Mixed Ligand Shell

We have prepared Au25(PET)18–2x((R)-FBINAS)x (PET = 2-phenylethylthiol, (R)-FBINAS = (R)-5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octafluoro-[1,1′-binaphthalene]-2,2′-dithiol) mixed ligand shell clusters via ligand exchange. Two fractions with different composition of the ligand shell were separated using size-exclusion chromatography and studied by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD). Both IR and VCD spectra are dominated by FBINAS vibrations although PET is more abundant on the cluster. Calculated VCD spectra on a model cluster Au25(SH)16(FBINAS)1 depend on the charge state of the cluster, and the anion is in excellent agreement with the experimental spectra of the Au25(PET)18–2x(FBINAS)x samples. Calculations of Au25(SH)14(FBINAS)2 furthermore show very similar spectra for different adsorption isomers with one exception, where the two ligands share a SR–Au–SR–Au–SR staple motif. Model calculations show that it is not necessary to consider the entire cluster for obtaining reliable VCD and IR spectra, but the staple motifs cannot be neglected. A band that is assigned to PET shows significant vibrational optical activity, and an anisotropy factor that depends on the composition of the ligand shell. This shows that the FBINAS molecules can transfer chirality to achiral PET within the ligand shell of the cluster

Importance of C*–H Based Modes and Large Amplitude Motion Effects in Vibrational Circular Dichroism Spectra: The Case of the Chiral Adduct of Dimethyl Fumarate and Anthracene

The role played by the C*–H based modes (C* being the chiral carbon atom) and the large amplitude motions in the vibrational absorption (VA) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra is investigated. The example of an adduct of dimethyl fumarate and anthracene, i.e., dimethyl-(+)-(11<i>R</i>,12<i>R</i>)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylate, and two deuterated isotopomers thereof specially synthesized for this goal, are considered. By comparing the experimental and DFT calculated spectra of the undeuterated and deuterated species, we demonstrate that the C*–H bending, rocking, and stretching modes in the VA and VCD spectra are clearly identified in well defined spectroscopic features. Further, significant information about the conformer distribution is gathered by analyzing the VA and VCD data of both the fingerprint and the C–H stretching regions, with particular attention paid to the band shape data. Effects related to the large amplitude motions of the two methoxy moieties have been simulated by performing linear transit (LT) calculations, which consists of varying systematically the relative positions of the two methoxy moieties and calculating VCD spectra for the partially optimized structures obtained in this way. The LT method allows one to improve the quality of calculated spectra, as compared to experimental results, especially in regard to relative intensities and bandwidths