Determining the structure of α-phenylethyl isocyanide in chloroform by VCD spectroscopy and DFT calculations--simple case or challenge?
The present work provides a comprehensive theoretical and experimental study of the vibrational circular dichroism of (S)-α-phenylethyl isocyanide in chloroform. The structure in solution is investigated systematically by density functional theory calculations starting from the isolated molecule and then by considering solvent effects implicitly using the PCM and explicitly by taking into account molecular complexes of the isocyanide molecule and chloroform. Furthermore, the influence of dimerisation is evaluated, and it is finally found that the structure of (S)-α-phenylethyl isocyanide in chloroform is best described assuming a solvated dimer. These results are underlined by a quantitative correlation of the experimentally and theoretically obtained rotational strengths and a robust modes analysis.
Merten
Christian
C
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM), Wiener Strasse 12, 28359 Bremen, Germany. christian.merten@ifam.fraunhofer.de
Amkreutz
Marc
M
Hartwig
Andreas
A
D002725:Chloroform; D002942:Circular Dichroism / Q000379:methods*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011789:Quantum Theory
D009570:Nitriles; C554963:alpha-phenylethyl isocyanide; D002725:Chloroform