Publications [#232001] of David N. Beratan

Journal Articles

1. Kondru, RK; Wipf, P; Beratan, DN, Atomic contributions to the optical rotation angle as a quantitative probe of molecular chirality., Science (New York, N.Y.), vol. 282 no. 5397 (December, 1998), pp. 2247-2250, ISSN 0036-8075 [9856945], [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/14)

   Abstract:
   Chiral molecules are characterized by a specific rotation angle, the angle through which plane-polarized light is rotated on passing through an enantiomerically enriched solution. Recent developments in methodology allow computation of both the sign and the magnitude of these rotation angles. However, a general strategy for assigning the individual contributions that atoms and functional groups make to the optical rotation angle and, more generally, to the molecular chirality has remained elusive. Here, a method to determine the atomic contributions to the optical rotation angle is reported. This approach links chemical structure with optical rotation angle and provides a quantitative measure of molecular asymmetry propagation from a center, axis, or plane of chirality.