Density-functional theory study of electric and magnetic properties of hexafluorobenzene in the vapor phase

A series of electric and magnetic properties of hexafluorobenzene have been calculated, including the electric dipole polarizability, magnetizability, electric quadrupole moment, and nonlinear mixed electric dipole-magnetic dipole-electric quadrupole hyperpolarizabilities needed to obtain estimates of the Kerr, Cotton-Mouton, Buckingham, Jones, and magnetoelectric birefringences in the vapor phase. Time-dependent density-functional theory was employed for the calculation of linear-, quadratic, and cubic response functions. A number of density functionals have been considered, along with Sadlej's triple-zeta basis set and the augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence double zeta and augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence triple zeta basis sets. Comparisons have been made with experiment where possible. The analysis of results allows for an assessment of the capability of time-dependent density-functional theory for high-order electromagnetic properties of an electron-rich system such as hexafluorobenzene.     

The convergence of complete active space self-consistent-field energies to the complete basis set limit

Examination of the convergence of full valence complete active space self-consistent-field energies with expansion of the one-electron basis set reveals a pattern very similar to the convergence of single determinant Hartree-Fock energies. Calculations on 26 molecular examples with the sequence of ntuple-zeta augmented polarized (nZaP) basis sets (n=2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) are used to evaluate complete basis set extrapolation schemes. The most effective extrapolation reduces the rms one-electron basis set truncation errors from 3.03, 0.58, and 0.12 mhartree to 0.23, 0.05, and 0.014 mhartree for the 3ZaP, 4ZaP, and 5ZaP basis sets, respectively.     

The convergence of energy expansions for molecules in electrostatic fields: A linear‐response coupled‐cluster study

The radii of convergence of power series expansions describing energy of a molecule in external electrostatic field are investigated usingD’Alembert ratio test, standard and generalized Cauchy–Hadamardcriteria, and Padé approximants. The corresponding coefficients at various field and field‐gradient components, representing multipole moments and (hyper)polarizabilities and including terms of tenth or even twentieth order, are determined using an ab initio linear responsecoupled‐cluster theory. Most calculations are performed for the HF molecule described by the basis set of double zeta quality, while the role of basis set is discussed by comparing the results with estimates of the radii of convergence obtained with the basis set of [5s3p2d/3s2p] quality. Emphasis is placed on the dependence of the interval of convergence of power series expansion describing energy of a molecule in applied electrostatic field on the nuclear geometry. The results might have important implications for various numerical methods used to calculate electrostatic molecular properties as functions of the internuclear geometry, including the finite‐field andfixed‐point‐charge approaches. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hartree-Fock exchange fitting basis sets for H to Rn

For elements H to Rn (except Lanthanides), a series of auxiliary basis sets fitting exchange and also Coulomb potentials in Hartree–Fock treatments (RI-JK-HF) is presented. A large set of small molecules representing nearly each element in all its common oxidation states was used to assess the quality of these auxiliary bases. For orbital basis sets of triple zeta valence and quadruple zeta valence quality, errors in total energies arising from the RI-JK approximation are below ∼1 meV per atom in molecular compounds. Accuracy of RI-JK-approximated HF wave functions is sufficient for being used for post-HF treatments like Møller–Plesset perturbation theory, MP2. Compared to nonapproximated treatments, RI-JK-HF leads to large computational savings for quadruple zeta valence orbital bases and, in case of small to midsize systems, to significant savings for triple zeta valence bases. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008     

HF and MP2 calculations on CN−, N2, AlF,SiO, PN,SC, ClB,and P2 using correlated molecular wave functions

Contracted basis sets of double zeta valence quality plus polarization functions (DZP) and augmented DZP basis sets, which were recently constructed for the first‐ and second‐row atoms, are applied to study the electronic ground states of the diatomic molecules CN^?, N₂, AlF, SiO, PN, SC, ClB, and P₂. At the Hartree–Fock (HF) and/or Møller–Plesset second‐order (MP2) levels, total and molecular orbital energies, dissociation energies, bond lengths, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and dipole moments are calculated and compared with available experimental data and with the results obtained from correlation consistent polarized valence basis sets of Dunning's group. For N₂, calculations of polarizabilities at the HF and MP2 levels with the sets presented above are also done and compared with results reported in the literature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Extensive ab initio study of the electronic states of SCl including spin-orbit coupling

The effect of different basis sets for calculation of the spectroscopic constants of the ground state of sulfur monochloride (SCl) was analyzed using scalar relativistic multireference configuration interaction with single and double excitations plus Davidson correction. Then the generally contracted all-electronic correlation-consistent polarized valence quintuple zeta basis sets were selected to compute the electronic states of SCl including 12 valence and 9 Rydberg lambda-S states. The spin-orbit coupling effect was calculated via the state interaction approach with the full Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian. This effect splits these lambda-S states into 42 omega states. Potential-energy curves of all these states are plotted with the help of the avoided crossing rule between the electronic states of the same symmetry. The structural properties of these states are analyzed. Spectroscopic constants of bound excited states that have never been observed in experiment are obtained. The transition dipole moments and the Franck-Condon factors of several transitions from low-lying bound excited states to the ground state were also calculated.     

Rotational spectroscopic and ab initio studies of the Xe-H2O van der Waals dimer

An ab initio potential energy surface of the Xe-H(2)O van der Waals dimer was constructed at the coupled cluster level of theory with single, double, and pertubatively included triple excitations. For the Xe atom, the small-core pseudopotential and augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence quadruple-zeta (aug-cc-pVQZ-PP) basis set was used. Dunning's augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence triple-zeta (aug-cc-pVTZ) basis set was chosen for O and H atoms. Midbond functions were used to supplement the atom-centered basis sets. Rotational spectra of the Xe-H(2)O van der Waals dimer were recorded with a pulsed-nozzle Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Rotational transitions within two internal rotor states, namely, the 0(00) and 1(01) states, were measured and assigned. Nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structures due to the (131)Xe (I = (3)/(2)), D (I = 1) and (17)O (I = (5)/(2)) nuclei were also observed and analyzed. Information about the molecular structure and the H(2)O angular motions was extracted from the spectroscopic results with the assistance of the ab initio potential.     

Balanced basis sets of split valence, triple zeta valence and quadruple zeta valence quality for H to Rn: Design and assessment of accuracy

Gaussian basis sets of quadruple zeta valence quality for Rb-Rn are presented, as well as bases of split valence and triple zeta valence quality for H-Rn. The latter were obtained by (partly) modifying bases developed previously. A large set of more than 300 molecules representing (nearly) all elements-except lanthanides-in their common oxidation states was used to assess the quality of the bases all across the periodic table. Quantities investigated were atomization energies, dipole moments and structure parameters for Hartree-Fock, density functional theory and correlated methods, for which we had chosen M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory as an example. Finally recommendations are given which type of basis set is used best for a certain level of theory and a desired quality of results.     

Basis set and electron correlation effects on the polarizability and second hyperpolarizability of model open-shell pi-conjugated systems

The basis set and electron correlation effects on the static polarizability (alpha) and second hyperpolarizability (gamma) are investigated ab initio for two model open-shell pi-conjugated systems, the C(5)H(7) radical and the C(6)H(8) radical cation in their doublet state. Basis set investigations evidence that the linear and nonlinear responses of the radical cation necessitate the use of a less extended basis set than its neutral analog. Indeed, double-zeta-type basis sets supplemented by a set of d polarization functions but no diffuse functions already provide accurate (hyper)polarizabilities for C(6)H(8) whereas diffuse functions are compulsory for C(5)H(7), in particular, p diffuse functions. In addition to the 6-31G(*)+pd basis set, basis sets resulting from removing not necessary diffuse functions from the augmented correlation consistent polarized valence double zeta basis set have been shown to provide (hyper)polarizability values of similar quality as more extended basis sets such as augmented correlation consistent polarized valence triple zeta and doubly augmented correlation consistent polarized valence double zeta. Using the selected atomic basis sets, the (hyper)polarizabilities of these two model compounds are calculated at different levels of approximation in order to assess the impact of including electron correlation. As a function of the method of calculation antiparallel and parallel variations have been demonstrated for alpha and gamma of the two model compounds, respectively. For the polarizability, the unrestricted Hartree-Fock and unrestricted second-order M?ller-Plesset methods bracket the reference value obtained at the unrestricted coupled cluster singles and doubles with a perturbative inclusion of the triples level whereas the projected unrestricted second-order M?ller-Plesset results are in much closer agreement with the unrestricted coupled cluster singles and doubles with a perturbative inclusion of the triples values than the projected unrestricted Hartree-Fock results. Moreover, the differences between the restricted open-shell Hartree-Fock and restricted open-shell second-order M?ller-Plesset methods are small. In what concerns the second hyperpolarizability, the unrestricted Hartree-Fock and unrestricted second-order M?ller-Plesset values remain of similar quality while using spin-projected schemes fails for the charged system but performs nicely for the neutral one. The restricted open-shell schemes, and especially the restricted open-shell second-order M?ller-Plesset method, provide for both compounds gamma values close to the results obtained at the unrestricted coupled cluster level including singles and doubles with a perturbative inclusion of the triples. Thus, to obtain well-converged alpha and gamma values at low-order electron correlation levels, the removal of spin contamination is a necessary but not a sufficient condition. Density-functional theory calculations of alpha and gamma have also been carried out using several exchange-correlation functionals. Those employing hybrid exchange-correlation functionals have been shown to reproduce fairly well the reference coupled cluster polarizability and second hyperpolarizability values. In addition, inclusion of Hartree-Fock exchange is of major importance for determining accurate polarizability whereas for the second hyperpolarizability the gradient corrections are large.     

Ab initio calculations on the molecular structure of fluorocyanopolyynes

The molecular structure of the first three members of the fluorocyanopolyynes was studied by ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations with a polarized double zeta basis set and at MP2 level with the same basis set. Alternating triple and single bonds were found; a theoretical estimate of rotational constants and dipole moments was performed and a comparison with the available experimental data was made. An analysis of the theoretical vibrational frequencies of the title compounds was carried out.     

A localized molecular-orbital assembler approach for Hartree-Fock calculations of large molecules

We describe an alternative fragment-based method, the localized molecular-orbital assembler method, for Hartree-Fock (HF) calculations of macromolecules. In this approach, a large molecule is divided into many small-size fragments, each of which is capped by its local surroundings. Then the conventional HF calculations are preformed on these capped fragments (or subsystems) and the canonical molecular orbitals of these systems are transferred into localized molecular orbitals (LMOs). By assembling the LMOs of these subsystems into a set of LMOs of the target molecule, the total density matrix of the target molecule is constructed and correspondingly the HF energy or other molecular properties can be approximately computed. This approach computationally achieves linear scaling even for medium-sized systems. Our test calculations with double-zeta and polarized double-zeta basis sets demonstrate that the present approach is able to reproduce the conventional HF energies within a few millihartrees for a broad range of molecules.     

Global ab initio potential energy surfaces for both the ground (X̃1A') and excited (Ã1A') electronic states of HNO and vibrational states of the Renner-Teller Ã1A'-X̃1A' system

The global potential energy surfaces for both the ground (X?(1)A(')) and excited (A?(1)A(')) electronic states of the HNO molecule have been constructed by three-dimensional cubic spline interpolation of more than 17,000 ab initio points, which have been calculated at the internal contracted multi-reference configuration interaction level with the Davidson correction using an augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence quadruple zeta basis set. The low-lying vibrational energy levels for the two electronic states of HNO have also been calculated on our potential energy surfaces including the diagonal Renner-Teller terms. The calculated results have shown a good agreement with the experimental vibrational frequencies of HNO and its isotopomers.     

Acetamide, a challenge to theory and experiment? On the molecular structure, conformation, potential to internal rotation of the methyl group and force fields of free acetamide as studied by quantum chemical calculations

The molecular geometry has been optimized without any constraints using different basis sets and levels of theory as: Hartree-Fock with basis sets 6–31+G**, 6–311++G**, cc-pVTZ and aug-cc-pVTZ, MP2 with basis sets 6–311++G** and cc-pVTZ, MP3 with basis set 6–311++G**, and density functional theory with basis sets 6–311++G** and cc-pVTZ. Small basis sets up to 6-31G predict the syn conformation of the methyl group to be the most stable conformation. Larger basis sets predict an unsymmetrical conformation with one of the H atoms perpendicular to the amide skeleton or an anti-like conformation. Dunnings correlation consistent polarized valence triple zeta, cc-pVTZ, basis set including MP2 predict two conformations, one perpendicular and one anti to be the most stable. The DFT calculations predict anti-like conformations. The most accurate calculations predict anti-like conformations which have not been predicted previously. The vibrational frequencies have been calculated for several basis sets and compared to the observed frequencies. The wagging frequency of the NH₂ is very dependent on the basis sets and levels of theory. Most calculations predict a planar NH₂ group in agreement with experiment. A scaled molecular force field has been determined by fitting the calculated frequencies to the observed ones for the perpendicular conformation using MP2/cc-pVTZ. The barrier heights for the methyl group have been calculated. The rotational constants, I_A + I_B − I_C values and dipole moments are compared with experimental values.     

Theoretical studies of the potential surface and vibrational spectroscopy of CH3OH and its deuterated analogs

A potential-energy force field for methanol is calculated at the coupled-cluster singles doubles and noniterative triples correction level using the correlation-consistent polarized valence triple zeta basis set. The force field describes the coupled molecular vibrations, including the cubic and quartic anharmonicites, as a function of the torsional coordinate. The resulting molecular eigenstates are calculated using a combination of perturbative and variation calculations following the approach of Castillo-Chará and Sibert [J. Chem. Phys. 119, 11671 (2003)]. The energies, including torsional tunneling splittings, are compared with available spectroscopic data for all the fundamentals. Excellent agreement is found. Varying the torsional mass, correlation plots are constructed in order to elucidate the complex role of torsion-vibration coupling.     

Accurate extrapolation of electron correlation energies from small basis sets

A new two-point scheme is proposed for the extrapolation of electron correlation energies obtained with small basis sets. Using the series of correlation-consistent polarized valence basis sets, cc-pVXZ, the basis set truncation error is expressed as deltaE(X) proportional, variant(X + xi(i))(-gamma). The angular momentum offset xi(i) captures differences in effective rates of convergence previously observed for first-row molecules. It is based on simple electron counts and tends to values close to 0 for hydrogen-rich compounds and values closer to 1 for pure first-row compounds containing several electronegative atoms. The formula is motivated theoretically by the structure of correlation-consistent basis sets which include basis functions up to angular momentum L = X-1 for hydrogen and helium and up to L = X for first-row atoms. It contains three parameters which are calibrated against a large set of 105 reference molecules (H, C, N, O, F) for extrapolations of MP2 and CCSD valence-shell correlation energies from double- and triple-zeta (DT) and triple- and quadruple-zeta (TQ) basis sets. The new model is shown to be three to five times more accurate than previous two-point schemes using a single parameter, and (TQ) extrapolations are found to reproduce a small set of available R12 reference data better than even (56) extrapolations using the conventional asymptotic limit formula deltaE(X) proportional, variantX(-3). Applications to a small selection of boron compounds and to neon show very satisfactory results as well. Limitations of the model are discussed.     

Two-photon absorption cross sections: an investigation of the accuracy of calculated absolute and relative values

We have studied the basis set and electron correlation effects on the ab initio calculations of two-photon absorption cross sections of water. Various series of correlation consistent basis sets up to triply augmented basis sets of valence pentuple zeta level as well as the popular 6-31G(d) basis set have been employed in combination with several coupled cluster, configuration interaction, and density functional theory methods. We find that it is very difficult to obtain converged values of the cross sections for even a small molecule such as water. Acknowledging these difficulties in obtaining a fully converged cross section for a given state, we also investigated the possibility of determining relative cross sections for a series of organic molecules. However, we did not find consistency between the relative cross sections calculated at the Hartree-Fock level and several coupled-cluster methods using the 6-31G(d) and aug-cc-pVDZ basis sets. However, we could reproduce the relative ordering of the two-photon absorption cross sections of the molecules studied at the Hartree-Fock level.     

Basis-set dependence of nuclear spin-spin coupling constants

The convergence of NMR indirect spin-spin coupling constants with the extension of the basis set is analyzed, based on calculations carried out at the multiconfigurational self-consistent-field level for the HF and H₂O systems. For the dominant and difficult Fermi-contact contribution, the standard correlation-consistent basis sets of electronic-structure theory are not suitable, lacking flexibility in the core region. Improved but not satisfactory convergence of the couplings is observed when decontracting the s functions of the correlation-consistent cc-pVXZ basis sets for 2≤X≤6. Next, by systematically extending these basis sets with tight s functions, new sets are obtained that are sufficiently flexible for accurate calculations of indirect nuclear spin-spin couplings, without sacrificing the smooth convergence behavior of the correlation-consistent basis sets. Received: 22 September 1997 / Accepted: 30 December 1997     

Microwave and ab initio studies of the Xe-CH4 van der Waals complex

An ab initio potential-energy surface of the Xe-CH4 van der Waals complex was constructed at the coupled cluster level of theory with single, double, and perturbatively included triple excitations. The recently developed small-core pseudopotential and augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence quadruple-zeta basis set was used for the xenon atom and Dunning's augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence triple-zeta basis set for the other atoms. The basis sets were supplemented with bond functions. Dipole moments were also calculated at various configurations. Rotational spectra of the Xe-CH4 van der Waals complex were recorded using a pulsed-nozzle Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The isotopomers studied include those of CH4,13CH4,CD4,CH3D, and CHD3 with the five most abundant Xe isotopes. Transitions within three internal rotor states, namely, the j=0,K=0; j=1,K=0; and j=2,K=1 states, were observed and assigned. Nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structures due to the presence of 131Xe(I=3/2) were detected and analyzed. It was found that the j=1,K=0 state is perturbed by a Coriolis interaction with a nearby j=1,K=1 state. For isotopomers containing CH3D and CHD3, the j=2 states are no longer metastable and could not be observed. The spectroscopic results were used to derive structural and dynamical information of the Xe-CH4 complex.     

Ab initio characterization of XH3 (X = N,P). Part II. Electric, magnetic and spectroscopic properties of ammonia and phosphine

The coupled cluster theory in conjunction with core valence triple and quadruple zeta basis sets has been employed for investigating electric, magnetic and spectroscopic properties of ammonia and phosphine. Namely molecular dipole and quadrupole moments, NMR shielding and spin-rotation constants, as well as spectroscopic properties such as rotational and centrifugal distortion constants as well as harmonic and anharmonic frequencies of NH₃ and PH₃ have been determined at a high level of accuracy. To obtain parameters directly comparable to experiment, vibrational effects have also been taken into account. In addition, the basis set convergence has been investigated for the molecular dipole moment.