Time-dependent density functional theory applied to ligand-field excitations and their circular dichroism in some transition metal complexes

► TDDFT Ligand-field (LF) excitations in 3d metal complexes are functional dependent. ► Study of Co(en)3(3+) links sensitivity to correlation/self-interaction balance. ► Correlation effects on the LF spectra are very large. ► Range separated functionals offer limited improvement due to spatial proximity of orbitals.