Discriminatory dispersion interactions between chiral molecules

Abstract

Dispersion interactions between a pair of chiral molecules depend on the relative handedness of the molecules. The energy shifts valid for all separations beyond electron overlap have been calculated by two methods: one based on fourth-order perturbation theory and the other on a response theory. Both methods use molecular quantum electrodynamics. The discriminatory energy shifts are shown to depend on the mixed electric-magnetic polarizability tensor. Non-discriminatory energy shifts of the same order dependent on electric quadrupole polarizability or magnetic susceptibility are also presented.