CCL: Enantiomeric excess via Conformational analysis

["Mohamed E. A. Safy" <m.safy- -compchem.net>]

 Sent to CCL by: "Mohamed E. A. Safy" [m.safy{=}compchem.net]
 Dear CCL community
 In one of our running projects, we are working in a collaboration with
 organic chemists. They asked us to perform calculations on enantiomeric
 excess of a molecule.
 According to the transition state theory, the calculations should be run on
 the transition states to predict the enantiomeric excess. This is because
 the R- and S- enantiomers are equal in energy.
 Indeed, if we searched for the most stable conformation for each of R- and
 S-enantiomers using conformational analysis technique, we will find that
 the most stable conformation of R- and S- enantiomers are not identical in
 energy. Moreover, if we used the most stable energy in Boltzmann
 population, we will get %population in agreement with %ee (enantiomer
 excess).
 So, we were wondering if this approach of conformational analysis followed
 by Boltzmann calculation would be a good approach to predict the %ee? If
 yes, so is there any reference would support our approach?
 Any comment would be highly appreciated.
 Have a nice day
 M. Safy