Electronic structure calculations of a chiral [2.2]metacyclophane

Qualitative and semi‐empirical MO theory is employed in an attempt to interprete the CD spectrum of triphenylenicene ( 1 ), a chiral [2.2]metacyclophane. There is over‐all agreement in the description of states; however, through‐space interaction of the aromatic chromophores causes rotation of certain electric transition moments, which results in peculiar, but logical changes of calculated rotational strengths. The absolute configuration of (–)‐ 1 is assigned M helicity, in contrast to previous assumption.