π-SCF and INDO calculations and the absorption, polarized excitation and circular dichroism spectra of [4]-helicenes

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The absorption and circular dichroism spectra of (-)d-1,12-dimethyl-benzo[c]phenanthrene-5-acetic acid are reported, together with the polarized excitation and fluorescence spectra of the parent hydrocarbon, [4]-helicene. The transition energies of 1,12-dimethyl-[4]-helicene calculated in the π-SCF approximation, and the corresponding dipole and rotational strengths obtained by the dipole-velocity method, show that the optical isomer studied has the M-configuration with the stereochemical form of a segment of a left-handed helix. Analogous calculations in the INDO approximation using both the dipole-velocity and the dipole-length procedure with separate consideration of the one-centre and the two-centre transition moment integrals, indicate that the more satisfactory dipole and rotational strengths are obtained in the two-centre dipole-velocity formulation. The appearance of σ → π* transitions at higher energies limits the application of the π-SCF procedure, but the INDO method is found to place these tra...