Chiral clusters in a supersonic beam: R2PI-TOF spectroscopy of diastereomeric carboxylic esters/(R)-(+)-1-phenyl-1-propanol complexes

Org Biomol Chem. 2005 Nov 7;3(21):3984-9. doi: 10.1039/b511050e. Epub 2005 Oct 3.

Abstract

Wavelength and mass resolved resonance-enhanced two photon ionization (R2PI) excitation spectra of (R)-(+)-1-phenyl-1-propanol (P(R)) and its complexes with some chiral esters, i.e. methyl lactates (L(R) and L(S)), methyl 3-hydroxybutyrates (H(R) and H(S)), and methyl 2-chloropropionates (C(R) and C(S)), have been recorded after a supersonic molecular beam expansion and interpreted in the light of DFT calculations. The spectral features of the selected complexes were found to depend on the nature of hydrogen-bond interactions within the diasteromeric complexes, whose intensity in turn depends upon the structure and the configuration of the estereal moiety. The study further confirms resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy, coupled with time-of-flight mass resolution (R2PI-TOF), as an excellent tool for gathering valuable information on the interactive forces in molecular clusters and for the enantiodiscrimination of chiral molecules in the gas phase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Esters / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Propanols / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Esters
  • Propanols
  • 1-phenylpropanol