TD-DFT and ZINDO/s calculations of C-3v and C-3 symmetry buckybowls are reported. Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy has been used to validate the theoretical descriptions of the electronic structures and the optical spectroscopy, with Michl's perimeter model used as a conceptual framework to analyze the results. The MCD spectroscopy has been found to be broadly similar to that reported previously for triphenylene. Two weak Gaussian-shaped Faraday B-0 terms at lower energy can be readily assigned to forbidden L-1 and L-2 transitions; while an intense derivative-shaped Faraday A(1) term at higher energy is assigned to the allowed B transition. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.