An Ab initio study on the conformations of protonated,neutral, and deprotonated amidine

Ab initio SCF molecular orbital calculations have been performed to ascertain the conformational preferences of protonated, neutral, and deprotonated amidine [HC(?NH)NH₂], using the 3-21G split valence basis set. The states of eight stable species, eight transition states, and four higher-order saddle points have been determined by complete geometry optimization utilizing analytic energy gradient techniques. Protonation at the amidine ?NH is preferred over the –NH₂ site by 37.1 kcal/mol. Neutral amidine has rotational barriers of 9.6 and 11.7 kcal/mol for the HN?CN cis and trans isomers, respectively, while all the stable HC(NH₂)₂⁺ and HC(NH)₂^? species possess torsional barriers larger than 23 kcal/mol. There is, however, essentially free C—N single-bond rotation in HC(?NH)NH₃⁺, the calculated barriers being 0.7 and 1.8 kcal/mol for the cis and trans HN?CN isomers, respectively.     

Ab initio calculations including electron correlation,and mindo/3 calculations on the system C2H+7

Ab initio SCF and CEPA PNO calculations have been performed together with MINDO/3 calculations on the system C₂H⁺₇. In agreement with experimental assignment, but in contradiction to MINDO/3 results, the ab initio methods show the CC protonated structure to be more stable than the CH protonated structure. The energy difference is 8.5 kcal/mol at the SCF level and 6.3 kcal/mol with inclusion of electron correlation. Additionally, ΔH⁰₃₀₀ for the reaction C₂H⁺_s + H₂ = C₂H⁺₇ and the proton affinity of ethane are computed.     

Ab initio predictions of the molecular structures and harmonic vibrational frequencies of Ga2O2 isomers

The potential energy surface of Ga₂O₂ is examined at the SCF and MP2 levels employing basis set of triple- plus double polarization quality. Four stationary points located at the SCF level are characterized via their Hessian index. Electron correlation is important for the energy ordering and splitting of the isomers. For example, two minimum energy structures, a cyclicD _2h form and a linear Ga-O-Ga-O, separated by 25.69 kcal/mol at the SCF level have an energy difference of only 1.70 kcal/mol at the MP2 levels. Our computed harmonic vibrational frequency at 962 cm^–1 for the Ga-O-Ga-O minimum structure in in good agreement with the experimental predicted value of 967 cm^–1.     

Theoretical study of metal ligand aromatic cation–π interactions of [Co(NH3)6]3+ with benzene

In this work, density functional theory calculations on geometries and energies of all possible conformers of the [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺–C₆H₆ cation–π complex are described. The calculations show that stationary points are several η₂ and the η₃ structures. The most stable η₃ structure has bonding energy, after basis set superposition error correction, of 32.18 kcal/mol. The energies of η₃ structures are similar; also, the energies of η₂ structures are similar while the difference in energy between η₃ and the η₂ structures is about 2 kcal/mol. This indicates a possibility for various orientations of the benzene ring with respect to interacting ligands in the case of metal ligand aromatic cation–π (MLACπ) interactions and a possibility for the existence of these interactions in different molecular systems. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002     

SCF LCAO MO studies on the hydration of ions: The system F− · 2H2O

The energy surface of the dihydrated fluoride anion (F·2H₂O)^–1 is studied for a number of different geometry points near the equilibrium structure within the SCF LCAO MO framework, using an extended gaussian basis set to approximate the molecular wavefunctions. For the first and second hydration step of the fluoride anion the corresponding hydration energies are calculated to beB ₁ ^scf =24.1 kcal/mole andB ₂ ^SCF =20.8 kcal/mole (experimental measurements: 23.3 kcal/mole and 16.6 kcal/mole, respectively). The hydration energies and equilibrium bond distances obtained for the dihydrated fluoride anion (F·2H₂O)^– are compared with those found for the monohydrate (FHOH)^– and with corresponding results of the dihydrated lithium cation (Li · 2H₂O)⁺. The system (F·2H₂O)^– is taken as a very simple model to discuss some basic features of the hydration process of small ions and to study the influence of a negative ion on an adjacent hydrogen bond.We would like to thank our technical staff for valuable help in carrying out these calculations.     

Molecular orbital theory of the hydrogen bond. VIII. Hydrogen bonding in H2OH2CO in relaxed singlet and triplet n → π* states

Ab initio SCF CI calculations with a minimal STO-3G basis set have been performed on the hydrogen bonded dimers in which H₂O is the proton donor to H₂CO in its relaxed singlet and triplet n→π^* states. Two dimers which are easily interconverted are found in the singet n→π^* state with hydrogen bond energies of 1.82 and 1.71 kcal/mole. The equilibrium dimer in the triplet state has a hydrogen bond energy of 2.97 kcal/mole. In both states, hydrogen bond formation occurs at the carbon atom. The structures of the dimers and the nature of the intermolecular surfaces in the regions of hydrogen bond formation are examined. Electron densities and distributions are also discussed.     

An ab initio MO calculation of the electronic structure and geometry of protonated methanol

Protonated methanol, CH₃ OH₂⁺, has been studied using the LCAO—MO—SCF method with a 7, 3 and 9, 5, 1 Gaussian orbital basis set on the heavy atoms and 4s on hydrogen. It is found that the ground state is non-planar around oxygen, in contrast with previous calculations, with an inversion barrier of 3 kcal mol^?1. The changes in electron distribution in the reacting systemCH₃⁺ + H₂O → CF₃OH₂⁺is also examined.     

Molecular orbital studies on small molecules using H2+-type elliptical basis orbitals. Application to H2+, H2, He2++ and H3+

H₂⁺-type elliptical orbitals are defined in Section 1. These orbitals, which in elliptical coordinates involve a factor (1 + ξ)^σ, are employed in variational calculations on the ground states of H₂⁺ and H₂ (Sections 2 and 3). Various choices of σ are explored for H₂⁺, while two choices are used for H₂ : the “boundary condition” (Equation 6) and the “cusp condition” (Equation 9) values. Variational energies are calculated and compared to the results of similar calculations. Section 3 concludes by employing the H₂⁺-type orbitals in LCETO-MO-SCF calculations on the ground states of H₂ and He₂⁺⁺. For both molecules a four-function basis set with two (nonlinear) variational parameters yields more than 99% of the Hartree-Fock limit. Section 4 deals with LCETO-MO-SCF calculations on triangular H₃⁺. Three four-function basis sets are used, and the best energy is -1.2306 a.u., which is in reasonable agreement with the Hartree-Fock limit, -1.2999 a.u. Our best basis set is a four-term two-center expansion of the wave function with only one nonlinear variational parameter. Section 5 concludes the paper with a summary of the methods used to evaluate the integrals which arise in SCF calculations in the H₂⁺-type elliptical orbital basis.     

The 1:1 glycine zwitterion-water complex: An ab initio electronic structure study

More than a dozen stationary points on the potential energy surface for the 1:1 glycine zwitterion—water complex have been investigated at Hartree-Fock or MP2 levels of theory with basis sets ranging from split valence (4-31G) to split valence plus polarization and diffuse function (6–31 + + G**) quality. Only one true minimum (GLYZWM, C₁ symmetry) could be located on the potential energy surface. GLYZWM features a bridged water molecule acting as both a hydrogen bond acceptor and donor with the NH₃⁻ and CO₂⁻ units of the glycine zwitterion. The total hydrogen bond energy in GLYZWM is computed as 16 kcal/mol (MP2/6–31 ++ G** // 6–31 ++ G**, including corrections for basis set superpositions errors). The computed vibrational frequencies and normal mode forms of the GLYZWM complex resemble in many cases experimental assignments made for the glycine zwitterion in bulk water on the basis of Raman spectroscopy. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On the existence of SH3, SeH3, and TeH3: Discrepancies between all-electron and pseudopotential calculations

Ab initio calculations using both pseudopotential and double and triple-ζ all-electron basis sets, with and without electron correlation (MP2, QCISD), have been performed on the λ⁴-sulfanyl (SH₃), λ⁴-selanyl (SeH₃), and λ⁴-tellanyl (TeH₃) radicals. All-electron basis sets of double-ζ quality predict that SH₃ and SeH₃ correspond to transition states on their respective potential energy surfaces. In contrast, the pseudopotentials of Hay and Wadt predict that SH₃ and SeH₃ correspond to local minima at the QCISD level of theory while the pseudopotentials of Christiansen and Stevens predict transition states. By comparison, TeH₃ proved to be a local minimum at all levels of theory. Interestingly, when a very large (triple-ζ) all-electron basis set was used, SH₃ proved to be a transition state; however, in this instance the potential energy surface was found to be much flatter than in the case for which a double-ζ basis set was used, suggesting that further improvements in the basis set may lead to a local minimum. Further improvements in the all-electron selenium basis also led to a local minimum for SeH₃ at the QCISD level of theory. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A quantum chemical study of the infrared absorption intensities of the isoelectronic C2v systems H2F+, H2O and NH−2

The results of a comparative theoretical study of the dipole moment derivatives and infrared absorption intensities within the double harmonic approximation are presented for the isoelectronic, isostructural C_2v molecules: H₂F⁺, H₂O and NH⁻₂. The calculations, performed at the ab initio SCF and CI levels of theory, utilize basis sets of triple zeta+two polarization functions quality. For the ions H₂F⁺ and NH⁻₂, in the absence of adequate experimental data the equilibrium geometries and force constants were also calculated. The trends observed in the dipole moment derivatives for the three systems are indicative of the amount of electronic charge associated with the hydrogen atoms and are very similar to the trends noted for a set of C_3v hydrides.     

London Dispersion Effects in a Distannene/Tristannane Equilibrium: Energies of their Interconversion and the Suppression of the Monomeric Stannylene Intermediate

Reaction of {LiC₆H₂−2,4,6-Cyp₃⋅Et₂O}₂ (Cyp=cyclopentyl) ( 1 ) of the new dispersion energy donor (DED) ligand, 2,4,6-triscyclopentylphenyl with SnCl₂ afforded a mixture of the distannene {Sn(C₆H₂−2,4,6-Cyp₃)₂}₂ ( 2 ), and the cyclotristannane {Sn(C₆H₂−2,4,6-Cyp₃)₂}₃ ( 3 ). 2 is favored in solution at higher temperature (345 K or above) whereas 3 is preferred near 298 K. Van't Hoff analysis revealed the 3 to 2 conversion has a ΔH=33.36 kcal mol⁻¹ and ΔS=0.102 kcal mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, which gives a ΔG^{300 K}=+2.86 kcal mol⁻¹, showing that the conversion of 3 to 2 is an endergonic process. Computational studies show that DED stabilization in 3 is −28.5 kcal mol⁻¹ per {Sn(C₆H₂−2,4,6-Cyp₃)₂ unit, which exceeds the DED energy in 2 of −16.3 kcal mol⁻¹ per unit. The data clearly show that dispersion interactions are the main arbiter of the 3 to 2 equilibrium. Both 2 and 3 possess large dispersion stabilization energies which suppress monomer dissociation (supported by EDA results).     

A theoretical study on the structure,internal rotation and heat of formation of the protonated fluoroform cation (CF3H2+)

Ab initio calculations have been performed to examine the properties of the protonated fluoroform cation (CF₃H₂⁺). These calculations show that the global minimum for CF₃H₂⁺ is [CF₂H … FH]⁺ among three possible configurational isomers. This isomer is suggested to be an ion-dipole complex between CF₂H⁺ and FH. The barrier to internal rotation of the bond between carbon of CF₂H⁺ and fluorine of HF is calculated as 0.96 kcal mol⁻¹ at the MP2/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The heat of formation of CF₃H₂⁺ at 298.15 K is estimated to be 60.6 kcal mol⁻¹ from the G2 calculation.     

The minimal basis set MINI-1—powerful tool for calculating intermolecular interactions. II. Ionic complexes

Optimum geometries and stabilization energies are determined for complexes of H₂O, NH₃, CH₄, C₂H₄, CO, and N₂ with metal cations including Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Al³⁺, for the complex (HO)₂PO ₂ ^– ...Mg²⁺ and for the complexes of water with F^–, Cl^–, and Br^– by SCF calculations employing the MINI-1 minimal gaussian basis sets. The Boys-Bernardi method was used to evaluate the superposition error. Comparison with the extended basis set results revealed that the MINI-1 set gives uniformly good results for a broad variety of ionic complexes and therefore should be preferred to other small basis sets.     

Examination of the structures,energetics, and vibrational frequencies of small sulfur-containing prototypical dimers, (H2S)2 and H2O/H2S

The optimized geometries, vibrational frequencies, and dissociation energies from MP2 and CCSD(T) computations with large correlation consistent basis sets are reported for (H₂S)₂ and H₂O/H₂S. Anharmonic vibrational frequencies have also been computed with second-order vibrational perturbation theory (VPT2). As such, the fundamental frequencies, overtones, and combination bands reported in this study should also provide a useful road map for future spectroscopic studies of the simple but important heterogeneous H₂O/H₂S dimer in which the hydrogen bond donor and acceptor can interchange, leading to two unique minima with very similar energies. Near the CCSD(T) complete basis set limit, the HOH⋯SH₂ configuration (H₂O donor) lies only 0.2 kcal mol⁻¹ below the HSH⋯OH₂ structure (H₂S donor). When the zero-point vibrational energy is included, however, the latter configuration becomes slightly lower in energy than the former by <0.1 kcal mol⁻¹. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Basis sets for molecular interactions. 1. Construction and tests on (HF)2 and (H2O)2

Basis set superposition error (BSSE) remains one of the major difficulties besetting current ab initio calculations of molecular interactions. Despite the widespread notion that lowering of the BSSE to negligible magnitude requires extremely large basis sets, we show that simple modifications of basis sets of only moderate size (e.g., 6-31G**) can accomplish the same end at much reduced computational expense. These modifications include reoptimization of the orbital exponents within the framework of the relevant molecules, plus addition of a single diffuse shell of sp orbitals on nonhydrogen centers. Subsequent addition of a second set of d-functions further lowers the SCF BSSE, bringing it below 0.1 kcal/mol for both (HF)₂ and (H₂O)₂. It is notable that addition of the latter d-functions without prior reoptimization of the valence orbitals produces the opposite effect of an increase in the BSSE. Although the MP2 BSSE is also substantially decreased by the above modifications, it appears difficult to reduce this quantity below about 0.4 kcal/mol.     

Cubic force constants of the FH⋯OH2 and FH⋯O(CH3)2hydrogen-bonded complexes. An analyses of computed Ab initio SCF values

Ab intio SCF MO calculations of quadratic and cubic force constants of the FH? OH₂ and FH?O(CH₃)₂ dimers have been carried out, using a split-valence (6-31G) basis set. For the former complex, the effects of H₂O relaxation and of extension of the basis set (triple-zeta and triple-zeta plus polarization basis functions on the FH?O hydrogen bond) have been evaluated With the most extended basis set, the equilibrium geometry of the FH?OH₂ complex does not have a definite C_2v character, in contrast to previous calculations.     

Ab initio scf and Ci study of the electronic structure of the trichlorine radical

Ab initio SCF and CI calculations using a double-zeta plus polarization basis set have been carried out on the trichlorine radical Cl₃ to determine its electronic structure. The minimum in energy is determined for a bent structure at a bond angle of 146° and bond lengths of 2.18 Å (SCF ) or 2.22 Å (CI ). At linear geometry a ²Π_u state is found to be lowest, approximately 7 kcal above the bent minimum, followed by a ²∑_g⁺ state, which is around 4 kcal higher. This situation suggests that already for low quantum numbers a complex vibrational pattern in the Cl₃ infrared spectrum is to be expected due to spin-orbit coupling as well as coupling of electronic, vibrational, and rotational motion.     

An ab initio study of the potential surface for the reaction H2COH → HCO + H2

The potential surface for the reaction H₂CO⁺H → HCO⁺ + H₂ has been studied by ab initio SCF calculations, using gaussian-type basis functions. A saddle point on the surface has been found, and a reaction path is proposed to explain the observed release of kinetic energy. The energy of activation and ΔE for the reaction have been estimated.