Chiroptical anisotropy of crystals and molecules.

Optical activity, a foundational part of chemistry, is not restricted to chiral molecules although generations have been instructed otherwise. A more inclusive view of optical activity is valuable because it clarifies structure-property relationships however, this view only comes into focus in measurements of oriented molecules, commonly found in crystals. Unfortunately, measurements of optical rotatory dispersion or circular dichroism in anisotropic single crystals have challenged scientists for more than two centuries. New polarimetric methods for unpacking the optical activity of crystals in general directions are still needed. Such methods are reviewed as well as some of the 'nourishment' they provide, thereby inviting to new researchers. Methods for fitting intensity measurements in terms of the constitutive tensor that manifests as the differential refraction and absorption of circularly polarized light, are described, and examples are illustrated. Single oriented molecules, as opposed to single oriented crystals, can be treated computationally. Structure-property correlations for such achiral molecules with comparatively simple electronic structures are considered as a heuristic foundation for the response of crystals that may be subject to measurement.

Chiroptical structure-property relations in cyclo[18]carbon and its in silico hydrogenation products.

The anisotropy of the optical activity of cyclo[18]carbon (C18 ), fully hydrogenated C18 (C18 H36 ), and 26 hydrogenated compounds of intermediate composition, C18 H2n , n = 1,2…17, were computed. These compounds were selected because they resemble loops of wire. The maximum gyration for acetylenic and cumulenic subgroups of compounds was linearly proportional to the product of the geometric area over which the charge can circulate, multiplied by the largest separation between carbon atoms on opposing sides of the loops. These geometric quantities can be likened to transition magnetic dipole moments and transition electric dipole moments, respectively, that can be generated in electronic excitations and which contribute in the main to nonresonant optical activity. The correlation between a computed geometric product of distance and area, and a quantum chemical property, establishes that chiroptical structure-activity relationships can be well established for judiciously chosen series of comparatively large compounds.

Aromaticity and Optical Activity.

The relationship between aromaticity and optical activity is investigated in comparisons of heterocycles with 4n + 2 and 4n π-electrons, in cyclic ketones with and without aromatic resonance structure representations, in tautomers and pericyclic reaction partners in which only one compound of each pair is aromatic, and in partially hydrogenated cyclo-C18 derivatives with both radial and tangential π-orbitals. In all comparisons, aromaticity is correlated to diminished optical activity. A heuristic explanation of this observation is grounded in the electric dipole-magnetic dipole polarizability contribution to optical activity in which the sense of electric dipoles and magnetic dipoles become uncoupled when electrons can circulate around a ring with either sense. These observations form a basis for making broad structure-optical activity correlations from inspection of molecular structure.

Hückel theory and optical activity.

Optical rotations and rotatory strengths are calculated for achiral, conjugated hydrocarbons with the aim of determining to what extent the sum-over-π → π* rotatory strengths are sufficient to account for nonresonant optical activity. The separability of σ and π electrons might provide a short cut to the interpretation of chiroptical structure-property relations in some cases. It is shown that by restricting the analyses to planar, C(2v)-symmetric π-systems and their one electron HOMO-LUMO excitations, an intuitive understanding of the vexing property of optical activity is forthcoming for the following reasons: Hückel wave functions are simply calculated, and in some cases, they can even be approximated by inspection of structure. Wave functions of planar molecules can be multiplied with one another graphically or, in the mind's eye, to yield transition electric and magnetic moments. The gyration tensors have just one independent component. Transition dipole moments are orthogonal to one another. And, the most optically active directions are found at their bisectors. Throughout, emphasis is on the evaluation of long wavelength optical rotation, consistent with quantum chemical computation, using simple models that are part of the fabric of organic chemistry pedagogy.

Planar hydrocarbons more optically active than their isomeric helicenes.

Comparisons are made of the calculated optical rotation tensors of C(2v)-symmetric, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and their [5]helicene, [6]helicene, and [7]helicene isomers. Seven ∩-shaped, planar compounds had, in each case, larger computed tensor elements than the chiral helicenes. Merely obviating the condition of solution averaging wholly changes expectations of the magnitudes and etiologies of optical activity. Symmetries of achiral compounds facilitate semiquantitative correlations between structure and optical rotation.