A theory of the optical properties of vitamin B 12 and its derivatives

Abstract

LCAO-MO calculations have been made on the π-electron system of corrin, using both Huckel and Pariser-Parr-Pople methods, with particular emphasis on the way in which the energies of the excited configurations vary with the valence state ionization potentials of the four ligand nitrogen atoms. Configuration interaction between the second and third excited states is particularly sensitive to the effective nuclear charges of these nitrogen atoms, and hence to the covalency of the bond between the metal and the axial ligands. The dipole and rotational strengths calculated by assuming that the molecular conformation in solution is the same as that found in the crystal lead to the conclusion that the wide variations in the absorption and circular dichroism spectra may be due to electronic changes. Low temperature solution spectra of dicyanocobinamide and methylcobalamin are presented and assignments discussed.