Intramolecular interactions and optical properties of indole-containing alkaloids extracted from Arundo donax L.

Three optically active natural alkaloids were computationally investigated. The electronic ground state was found to be characterised by numerous intramolecular interactions, among which a hydrogen bond. These interactions are responsible for the different rate constants of the kinetics of conversion from one atropisomer to the other. The complex molecular electrostatic potential reveals a strong polar nature of these compounds, which strengthens when the electronic excited states are populated. The absorption spectra were interpreted and the intramolecular charge transfer nature of the Sn ← S0 transitions was revealed. The ECD spectra for the different atropisomers of these compounds indicate that the assignment proposed in the literature for 1 should be revised. The geometry of the excited state shows dramatic changes with respect to the ground state; some intramolecular interactions get lost. The fluorescence spectrum, proposed for the first time, shows de-excitation energies in the blue-green region (488 nm to 518 nm). Internal Conversion and intramolecular Electronic Energy Transfer may be fluorescence quenching channels.