Helical sense-responsive and substituent-sensitive features in vibrational and electronic circular dichroism, in circularly polarized luminescence, and in Raman spectra of some simple optically active hexahelicenes

Four different hexahelicenes, 5-aza-hexahelicene, hexahelicene, 2-methyl-hexahelicene, and 2-bromo-hexahelicene, were prepared and their enantiomers, which are stable at r.t., were separated. Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra were measured for 5-aza-hexahelicene; for all the compounds, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra were recorded. Each type of experimental spectrum was compared with the corresponding theoretical spectrum, determined via Density Functional Theory (DFT). This comparison allowed to identify some features related to the helicity and some other features typical of the substituent groups on the helical backbone. The Raman spectrum of 5-aza-hexahelicene is also examined from this point of view.