The CD spectra of several mono- and dilactams and thiolactams of sparteine
were measured with the purpose of clarifying spectra-structure relations. I
t is shown that the Cotton effects of lactams are predominantly of the oppo
site sign to those of the corresponding thiolactams. In bichromophoric mole
cules 7-9 the observed CD spectra are dominated by exciton type interaction
s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.