Solid-state Circular Dichroism and Hydrogen Bonding, Part 2: The Case of Hypothemycin Re-investigated

Negative Nonlinear CD-ee Dependence in Polycrystalline BINOL Thin Films

Generally, the relationship between the observed circular dichroism and the enantiomeric excess in chiral systems (CD-ee dependence) is linear. While positive nonlinear behavior has often been reported in the past, examples of negative nonlinear (NN) behavior in CD-ee dependence are rare and not well understood. Here, we present a strong NN CD-ee dependence within polycrystalline thin films of BINOL by using second-harmonic-generation circular dichroism (SHG-CD) and commercial CD spectroscopy studies. Theoretical calculations, microscopy, and FTIR studies are employed to further clarify the underlying cause of this observation. This behavior is attributed to the changing supramolecular chirality of the system. Systems exhibiting NN CD-ee dependence hold promise for highly accurate enantiomeric excess characterization, which is essential for the refinement of enantio-separating and -purifying processes in pharmaceuticals, asymmetric catalysis, and chiral sensing. Our findings suggest that a whole class of single-species systems, i.e., racemate crystals, might possess NN CD-ee dependence and thus provide us a vast playground to better understand and exploit this phenomenon.

Electronic Circular Dichroism Imaging (ECDi) Casts a New Light on the Origin of Solid-State Chiroptical Properties

Solid-state ECD (ss-ECD) spectra of a model microcrystalline solid, finasteride, dispersed into a KCl pellet were recorded by using the synchrotron radiation source at the Diamond B23 beamline. Scanning a surface of 36 mm² with a step of 0.5 mm, we measured a set of ECD imaging (ECDi) spectra very different from each other and from the ss-ECD recorded with a bench-top instrument (1 cm² area). This is due to the anisotropic part of the ECD (ACD), which averages to zero in solution or on a large number of randomly oriented crystallites, but can otherwise be extremely large. Two-way singular value decomposition (SVD) analysis, through experimental and simulated TDDFT spectra, disclosed that the measured and theoretical principal components are in line with each other. This finding demonstrates that the observed isotropic ss-ECD spectrum is governed by the anisotropy of locally oriented crystals. It also introduces a new quality for ss-ECD measurements and opens a new future for probing and mapping chiral materials in the solid state such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

Unique Aggregation of Sterigmatocystin in Water Yields Strong and Specific Circular Dichroism Response Allowing Highly Sensitive and Selective Monitoring of Bio-Relevant Interactions

We demonstrated the hitherto unknown property of the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin (STC) to provide homogeneous solutions in aqueous medium by forming a unique aggregate type (not formed by analogous aflatoxins), characterized by exceptionally strong circular dichroism (CD) bands in the 300-400 nm range. Results showed that these CD bands do not originate from intrinsic STC chirality but are a specific property of a peculiar aggregation process similar to psi-DNA CD response. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments revealed a fine fiber network resembling a supramolecular gel structure with helical fibers. Thermodynamic studies of aggregates by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed high reversibility of the dominant aggregation process. We demonstrated that the novel STC psi-CD band at 345 nm could be applied at biorelevant conditions (100 nanomolar concentration) and even in marine-salt content conditions for specific and quantitative monitoring of STC. Also, we showed that STC strongly non-covalently interacts with ds-DNA with likely toxic effects, thus contrary to the previous belief requiring prior enzyme epoxidation.

In Depth Analysis of Chiroptical Properties of Enones Derived from Abietic Acid

With the use of inexpensive commercially available abietic acid, a whole series of abietane enones were prepared in high yields. The structures of all the products obtained were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis with particular emphasis on the use of advanced NMR techniques, comparison with previously reported data and, where possible, by single crystal X-ray diffraction. However, in cases where X-ray crystallography was not applicable or compounds tested were unstable, a final stereochemical assignment could be inferred only by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) supported by vibrational circular dichroism to increase credibility. To reveal the relationship between structure and chiroptical properties, we used combined experimental and theoretical analysis of geometries, structural parameters, and chiroptical properties of all enones synthesized. A thorough analysis of their conformational flexibility by examining the effect of solvent and temperature on the ECD spectra was also used to achieve desired objectives. As a result, the impact of substituents adjacent to the enone chromophore on the conformation was determined by demonstrating that even slight changes in the position of hydroxyl and isopropyl groups attached to carbon C13 may substantially affect ECD curves' pattern, leading in some cases to Cotton effects sign reversal.

Influence of the interface on the optical activity of confined glucose films

We report on the time evolution of the optical activity of a thinning liquid film containing glucose, and confined between two glass slides. This dynamics strongly depends on the presence of surfactant molecules. With sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), we evidence favorable interactions of sugar molecules with the sulfate group. As previously observed for a freely suspended soap film in the air (see Emile et al., 2013), this corresponds to an anchoring of glucose molecules at the interface. For glucose alone, we also highlight a molecular rearrangement that is not instantaneous and occurs after several minutes. This interfacial organization leads to an unusual giant optical activity that is different with or without SDS. Molecular simulations confirm the anchoring of the glucose molecules at the glass/liquid interface, and show a different molecular orientation in each case.

DNA Electronic Circular Dichroism on the Inter-Base Pair Scale: An Experimental-Theoretical Case Study of the AT Homo-Oligonucleotide

A successful elucidation of the near-ultraviolet electronic circular dichroism spectrum of a short double-stranded DNA is reported. Time-dependent density functional theory methods are shown to accurately predict spectra and assign bands on the microscopic base-pair scale, a finding that opens the field for using circular dichroism spectroscopy as a sensitive nanoscale probe of DNA to reveal its complex interactions with the environment.

On the nature of non-covalent interactions in isomers of 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone dimers – ground- and excited-state properties

Impact of intermolecular NCIs (C–H⋯O, C–H⋯Cl, C–Cl⋯O, C–Cl⋯Cl–C, C–O⋯C, C–Cl⋯C and C–O⋯π) on chirality arrangement in the isomers of the 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ) dimer.

Strong intermolecular exciton couplings in solid-state circular dichroism of aryl benzyl sulfoxides

A series of 13 enantiopure aryl benzyl sulfoxides () with different substituents on the two aromatic rings has been previously analyzed by means of electronic circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Most of these compounds are crystalline and their X-ray structure is established. For almost one-half of the series, CD spectra measured in the solid state were quite different from those in acetonitrile solution. We demonstrate that the difference is due to strong exciton couplings between molecules packed closely together in the crystal. The computational approach consists of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations run on "dimers" composed of nearest neighbors found in the lattice. Solid-state CD spectra are well reproduced by the average of all possible pairwise terms. The relation between the crystal space group and conformation, and the appearance of solid-state CD spectra, is also discussed.

Absolute configurations of four resorcylic acid lactones, paecilomycins J-M, by CD/TDDFT calculations

The absolute configurations of four resorcylic acid lactones (RALs), paecilomycins J-M (1-3 and 5), were assigned by Time-Dependent Density-Functional Theory (TDDFT) calculations of their electronic circular dichroism (CD) spectra. The previously reported structure 4 for paecilomycin M was found to be incorrect and should be changed to structure 5. Analysis of structure-spectrum relationship for this group of RALs suggested that V'-shape conformations give type I CD spectra (two negative Cotton effects around 300 and 260 nm, a positive Cotton effect around 220 nm) while V-shape conformations yield type II spectra (signs of three Cotton effects were opposite to those in type I).

Lignans from Schisandra sphenathera Rehd. et Wils. and semisynthetic schisantherin A analogues: absolute configuration, and their estrogenic and anti-proliferative activity

A new dibenzocyclooctene-type lignan, named schisandrin A1 (1), together with nine known lignans (2-10), was isolated from the stems of Schisandra sphenathera. The structure of schisandrin A1, which contains a spirocyclic epoxy unit, was established by means of spectroscopic methods. The absolute configurations of schisandrin A1 (1) and schisantherin A (2) were determined by electronic circular dichroism (CD) and TDDFT calculations, with 2 further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic data. Ten new schisantherin A derivatives (11-20) and 6,7-secoschisantherol A (2b) were synthesized. In addition, natural lignans and semisynthetic schisantherin A derivatives showed the antiproliferative activity on four human cancer cell lines and Id1 (an inhibitor of DNA binding protein) and estrogenic potency. Compounds 5, 7, and 8 exhibited very potent estrogenic activity.