Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers
Published on: August 18, 2017
Absolute configuration determination of chiral molecules in the solution state using vibrational circular dichroism
Teresa B Freedman1, Xiaolin Cao, Rina K Dukor
1Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244-4100, USA.
Abstract:
Advances in the measurement, calculation, and application of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) for the determination of absolute configuration are described. The purpose of the review is to provide an up-to-date perspective on the capability of VCD to solve problems of absolute stereochemistry for chiral molecules primarily in the solution state. The scope of the article covers the experimental methods needed for the accurate measurement of VCD spectra and the theoretical steps required to systematically deduce absolute configuration. Determination of absolute configuration of a molecule by VCD requires knowledge of its conformation or conformational distribution, and hence VCD analysis necessarily provides solution-state conformation information, in many cases available by no other method, as an additional benefit. Comparisons of the advantages and limitations of VCD relative to other available chiroptical methods of analysis are also presented.
Related Concept Videos
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
Stereoisomerism of Cyclic Compounds
Molecules with Multiple Chiral Centers
Chirality
Chiral objects exhibit a sense of handedness when they interact with another chiral object. For example, our left foot can only fit in the left shoe and not in the right shoe. Achiral objects โ objects that have...
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Variable-Temperature NMR
Properties of Enantiomers and Optical Activity

