Optical rotatory power. I—A theoretical calculation for a molecule containing only isotropic refractive centres

Abstract

Ever since the time of van’t Hoff and Le Bel the number investigations dependent on optical activity, or attempting to elucidate optical activity, has been very great, and it is remarkable that, even at the present time, there is no theoretical formula which gives the relation between the magnitude of the rotation and the chemical structure of the molecule concerned. The present communication supplies this want with regard to the molecule of the simplest asymmetric type: the molecule with four different groups attached to one central atom. Various special hypothese have been postulated to explain optical activity, but a few investigators have shown quite definitely that there is no necessity for any of these hypotheses. Born* and Oseen have shown independently that, if the molecule has a dissymmetric structure, the ordinary refractive properties of the atoms will account for an optical rotation. Gray* and de Mallemann have attempted calculations of formulæ for optical retatory power on this basis. However, it has not been possible to condense the numerous algebraic terms which occur in these calculaations into a compact form.