A series of atropisomeric molecules containing the indole ring and two stereogenic axes were prepared. The four atropisomers were resolved by enantioselective HPLC. The rotational barriers of the indole–naphthyl axes were evaluated by means of kinetic analysis either by NMR or enantioselective HPLC. The absolute configuration of the atropisomers was determined by a combination of X-ray spectroscopy and TD-DFT simulation of electronic circular dichroism spectra.
Key words
atropisomerism - electronic circular dichroism - benzannulation - DFT calculations - X-ray spectroscopy - indole