The
absolute configuration and conformations of (−)-
tert
-butylphenylphosphinoamidate were determined using three
different chiroptical spectroscopic methods, namely vibrational circular
dichroism (VCD), electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and optical
rotatory dispersion (ORD). In each of the spectroscopic methods used,
experimental data for the (−)-enantiomer of
tert
-butylphenylphosphinoamidate were measured in the solution phase.
Using the concentration-dependent experimental infrared spectra, the
existence of dimers in the solution was investigated, and the monomer–dimer
equilibrium constant was determined. Concomitant quantum mechanical
predictions of the VCD, ECD, and ORD for monomeric
tert
-butylphenylphosphinoamidate were carried out using density functional
theory (DFT) calculations using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G(d),
6-311G(2d,2p) and aug-cc-pVDZ basis sets. Similar predictions for
dimeric
tert
-butylphenylphosphinoamidate were also
obtained using the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method. A comparison of theoretically
predicted data with the corresponding experimental data led to the
elucidation of the absolute configuration as (−)-(
R
)-
tert
-butylphenylphosphinoamidate with one predominant
conformation in the solution. This conclusion was independently supported
by X-ray analysis of the complex with (+)-
R
-2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthol
((+)-
R
- BINOL).