An investigation of electron helicity density in bromocamphor and dibromocamphor as a source of electron circular dichroism

We investigate the causes of electron-circular dichroism (ECD) in bromocamphor and dibromocamphor, focusing specifically on the electron helicity density of the target. Using electron transmission spectroscopy (ETS) and quantum chemical calculations, we have observed and assigned temporary negative ion states of bromocamphor and dibromocamphor. Further calculations were conducted to determine the helicity densities of these compounds. Large helicity densities are found in the regions of large wavefunction amplitude of the normally unoccupied molecular orbitals responsible for resonances in the scattering cross sections. We relate our ETS assignments and helicity density results to the chiral asymmetry data observed in electron-circular dichroism experiments by the Münster group (Nolting et al 1997 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 30 5491). Our results support helicity density as a possible source of chiral asymmetry at certain resonance positions in bromocamphor and dibromocamphor. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)