Helical Electronic Transitions of Spiroconjugated Molecules

The two pi-systems of allene can mix into helical molecular orbitals (MOs), yet the helicity is lost in the pi-pi∗ transitions. In spiroconjugated molecules the relative orientation of the two π- systems is different as only half the pi-MOs become helical. Consequently, the helicity of the electronic transitions is symmetry protected and thus helical pi-conjugation can manifest in observable electronic and chiroptical properties.