Optically Active Trialkynyl(phenyl)methane: Synthesis and Determination of Its Absolute Configuration by Vibrational Circular Dichroism (VCD) and Optical Rotatory Dispersion (ORD)

Both enantiomers of an optically active trialkynyl(phenyl)methane (the key building blocks in the construction of a stable expanded cubane) have been prepared. The strategy involved the resolution of a racemic intermediate by means of IIPLC on a chiral stationary phase The absolute configuration of this intermediate was unambiguously assigned by using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD), in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations.