Determination of absolute configuration using concerted ab Initio DFT calculations of electronic circular dichroism and optical rotation: bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane diones.

The concerted use of ab initio time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations of transparent spectral region optical rotation and of circular dichroism has recently become practicable, permitting the concerted use of transparent spectral region optical rotation and circular dichroism in determining the absolute configurations of chiral molecules. Here, we report concerted TDDFT calculations of the transparent spectral region specific rotations and of the circular dichroism spectra originating in n --> pi C=O group excitations of four bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane diones, 1-4. Comparison to experiment yields absolute configurations for 1-4. For each dione, specific rotations and circular dichroism spectra give identical absolute configurations. Our results are consistent with previous work, with the exception of the Octant Rule-derived absolute configuration of the 2,9-dione.