(S)-(-)-2-Chloropropionitrile has been prepared from (S)-(+)-alanine, and the ORD curves have been obtained in several solvents and in the gas phase. A reaction field extrapolation of the solution data to the gas phase led to an estimated value of [alpha](D) = -21 degrees, whereas the interpolated gas phase value is -8 degrees. The specific rotation was found to be temperature dependent in ethylcyclohexane solution over the range 0-100 degrees C. Although rotation of the methyl group leads to large calculated effects on the specific rotation, it does not lead to the temperature dependence. Rather, a low frequency mode at 224 cm(-1) was found to be responsible. This is a mixed mode involving methyl torsion and C-C&3bond; N bending. The specific rotations calculated at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level including electric field dependent functions are in very good agreement with the measured gas phase values.