POLARIMETRYPOLARIMETRY T2 Chapter # 5, “Organic Chemistry” (7 th ed.) by Solomons and Fryhle

Introduction: It’s a type of qualitative and quantitative technique,used mostly for optically active compounds the tendency of the molecules to rotate the plane of plane polarized light (clockwise or anticlockwise) and the extent of rotation is measured these properties are unique for a molecule, thus polarimetry can be used to identify and estimate the compounds

1) Structural (constitutional) isomers- differ because their atoms or functional groups are connected in a different order Isomerism: different compounds that have the same molecular formula are c/a isomers

2) Stereoisomers- atoms are connected in the same sequence but differ only in arrangement of the atoms in space

1) Diastereomers- stereoisomers whose molecules are not mirror image of each other These two compounds are isomers of each other because they are different compounds and have the same molecular formula Stereoisomers are subdivided into two types:

Their atoms are joined in the same sequence, therefore not a constitutional (structural) isomer They differ only in the arrangement of their atoms in the space, therefore stereoisomers They are not mirror image of each other, therefore not enantiomers but diastereomers Another example of diastereomers

2) Enantiomers: stereoisomers whose molecules are nonsuperposable mirror image of each other enantiomers occur only with those compounds whose molecules are chiral 3-D drawing of 2-butanol enantiomers

a pair of enantiomers is always possible for molecules that contain one tetrahedral atom with four different group attached to it (chirality center) in 2-butanol this is C2 any two groups at the tetrahedral atom that bear 4 different groups converts one enantiomer into the other Enantiomers of 2-butanol

Achiral molecule When there are only three dissimilar groups around the carbon atom (ie. the same group occur twice), the molecule is symmetric superimposable on its mirror image achiral

Chiral and achiral molecule

Properties of Enantiomers : Optical activity when a beam of plane-polarized light passes through an enantiomers, the plane of polarization rotates separate enantiomers rotate the plane of plane- polarized light equal amounts but in opposite directions because of their effect on plane-polarized light, enantiomers are said to be optically active compounds

Plane polarized light : A beam of light consists of two mutually perpendicular oscillating fields:electric field and magnetic field In a beam of ordinary light (ex from bulb) the oscillation of electric field are occurring in all possible planes perpendicular to the direction of propagation, c/a Unpolarized light

When an unpolarized light is passed through a polarizer, the polarizer interacts with the electrical field The resultant light which emerge from the polarizer has their electric field vector oscillating in only one direction Such light is c/a plane-polarized light Plane polarized light can be polarized in different directions

Plane polarize light

The Polarimeter : a device used to measure the effect of plane-polarized light on optically active compounds The components of polarimeter are: a light source - (usually a sodium lamp) a polarizer a tube for holding sample in the light beam- a sample cell

an analyzer- second polarizer, and a scale- to measure the rotation of plane polarized light schematic of a polarimeter

Schematic of a polarimeter

if no or optically inactive sample is present in the tube and the instrument is reading zero (0 o ), the axes of plane polarized light and the analyzer is exactly parallel the observer will detect maximum amount (100 % transmittance) of light passing through. if the sample is optically active the plane of PPL will be rotated as it pass through the tube

in order to detect the maximum brightness of the light (ie. 100% transmittance) observer will have to rotate the axis of the analyzer in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction if the analyzer is rotated in a clockwise direction, the rotation ( α in degree) is said to be positive (+), and such substance are c/a dextrorotatory if the rotation is counterclockwise, the α is –ve, and such substances are c/a levorotatory

Specific Rotation: extent of optical rotation depends on both the sample path length and the analyte concentration. Specific rotation, [α], provides a normalize quantity to correct for this dependence, and is defined as: [α] = α / c.l where, [α]= the specific rotation ; α = observed rotation c = conc. of sample in gm/ml l = length of the tube in decimeter (1dm = 10cm)

[α] depends on the temperature and the wavelength of the light used these quantities are also incorporated while reporting [α] [α] D 25 = o means D line of a sodium lamp (λ=589.6nm) is used for the light at a temperature of 25 o C, and that a sample containing 1.00g/ml of the optically active substance, in a 1-dm tube, produces a rotation of 3.12 o in a clockwise direction

Specific rotation of enantiomers of 2-butanol

Racemic Mixture : an equimolar mixture of two enantiomers is c/a a racemic mixture a racemic mixture is optically inactive and shows no rotation of plane-polarized light it is often designated as being (±) ex (±)-2-Butanol

Origin of optical activity : a beam of plane-polarized light a achiral molecule (ex 2-propanol) in orientation (a) and then a second molecule in the mirror-image orientation (b) resultant beam emerges from these two encounters with no net rotation of its plane of polarization

when a beam of plane-polarized light encounters a molecule of (R)-2-butanol (chiral molecule) in orientation (a) slight rotation of plane of polarization results exact cancellation of this rotation requires that a second mole be oriented as an exact mirror image

this cancellation does not occur because the only molecule that could ever be oriented as an exact mirror image at the first encounter is a molecule of (s)-2-butanol, which is not present as a result a net rotation of the plane of polarization occurs

Biological importance of chirality

Application polarimetric method is a simple and accurate means for determination of structure in micro analysis of expensive and non-duplicable samples. it is employed in quality control, process control and research in the pharmaceutical, chemical, essential oil, flavor and food industries. it is so well established that the United States Pharmacopoeia and the Food & Drug Administration include polarimetric specifications for numerous substances.

Research Applications Research applications for polarimetry are found in industry, research institutes and universities as a means of: isolating and identifying unknowns, crystallized from various solvents or separated by HPLC. evaluating and characterizing optically active compounds by measuring their specific rotation and comparing this value with the theoretical values found in literature.

investigating kinetic reactions by measuring optical rotation as a function of time. monitoring changes in concentration of an optically active component in a reaction mixture, as in enzymatic cleavage. analyzing molecular structure by plotting optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) curves over a wide range of wavelengths. distinguishing between optical isomers.

Determines product purity by measuring specific rotation and optical rotation of: Amino acids, Amino sugars, Analgesics, Antibiotics Cocaine, Dextrose Diuretics Serums Steroids Tranquilizers Vitamins Utilizes polarimetry for incoming raw materials inspection of: Camphors, Citric acid, Glyceric acid Gums Lavender oil, Lemon oil Orange oil Spearmint oil Pharmaceutical Applications

Analyzes optical rotation as a means of identifying and characterizing: Natural polymers, Biopolymers, Synthetic polymers Ensures product quality by measuring the concentration and purity of the following compounds in sugar based foods, cereals and syrups: Carbohydrates Fructose Glucose Lactose Levulose Maltose Raffinose Sucrose Various Starches Natural monosaccharides

Summary: enantiomers polarimeter origin of optical activity Biological importance of chirality Application Next time Gas Chromatography!!!!