Limits on fluorescence detected circular dichroism of single helicene molecules

J Phys Chem A. 2009 Jun 4;113(22):6213-6. doi: 10.1021/jp903598t.

Abstract

Fluorescent imaging of single helicene molecules is applied to study the optical activity of chiral fluorophores. In contrast to the previous report by Hassey et al. (Science 2006, 314, 1437), the dissymmetry factors of single chiral fluorophores are found not to differ significantly from the bulk value of |g| < 10(-4) at 457 nm. Linear dichroism and birefringence of the dichroic mirror inside the fluorescence microscope change the polarization state of the incoming laser beam significantly; i.e., circular polarized light sent into the microscope becomes highly elliptically polarized after reflection from the dichroic mirror. Compensation for this effect should be made to avoid artifacts brought by linear dichroism in single immobilized molecules.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Artifacts
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Fluorescence*
  • Luminescent Measurements*
  • Polycyclic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Uncertainty

Substances

  • Polycyclic Compounds
  • helicenes