Quantum chemistry simulation on quantum computers: theories and experiments

It has been claimed that quantum computers can mimic quantum systems efficiently in the polynomial scale. Traditionally, those simulations are carried out numerically on classical computers, which are inevitably confronted with the exponential growth of required resources, with the increasing size of quantum systems. Quantum computers avoid this problem, and thus provide a possible solution for large quantum systems. In this paper, we first discuss the ideas of quantum simulation, the background of quantum simulators, their categories, and the development in both theories and experiments. We then present a brief introduction to quantum chemistry evaluated via classical computers followed by typical procedures of quantum simulation towards quantum chemistry. Reviewed are not only theoretical proposals but also proof-of-principle experimental implementations, via a small quantum computer, which include the evaluation of the static molecular eigenenergy and the simulation of chemical reaction dynamics. Although the experimental development is still behind the theory, we give prospects and suggestions for future experiments. We anticipate that in the near future quantum simulation will become a powerful tool for quantum chemistry over classical computations.     

Inverse quantum chemistry: Concepts and strategies for rational compound design

The rational design of molecules and materials is becoming more and more important. With the advent of powerful computer systems and sophisticated algorithms, quantum chemistry plays a decisive role in the design process. While traditional quantum chemical approaches predict the properties of a predefined molecular structure, the goal of inverse quantum chemistry is to find a structure featuring one or more desired properties. Herein, we review inverse quantum chemical approaches proposed so far and discuss their advantages as well as their weaknesses. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Bisguanidines with Biphenyl,Binaphthyl, and Bipyridyl Cores: Proton‐Sponge Properties and Coordination Chemistry

Herein, we report on the synthesis, protonation, and coordination chemistry of chelating guanidine ligands with biphenyl, binaphthyl, and bipyridyl backbones. The ligands are shown to be proton sponges, and this protonation was studied experimentally and by using quantum‐chemical calculations. Group 10 metal (Ni, Pd, and Pt) complexes with different metal/ligand ratios were synthesized. In the case of the bipyridyl systems, coordination occurs exclusively at the pyridine N atoms, as opposed to protonation. The spin‐density distribution and the magnetism were evaluated for a series of paramagnetic Ni^II complexes with the aid of paramagnetic NMR spectroscopic studies in alliance with quantum‐chemical calculations and magnetic (SQUID) measurements. Through direct delocalization from the singly occupied molecular orbitals (SOMOs), a significant amount of spin density is placed on the guanidinyl groups, and spin polarization also transports spin density onto the aromatic backbone.     

计算(机)化学学科进展(2011-2013)

计算(机)化学已成为化学学科的重要组成部分,在理论计算、分子模拟、数据挖掘以及复杂体系分析中发挥了重要作用。本文总结了近年来化学信息学的研究进展,包括化学信息学方法、软件及数据库技术以及化学信息学在结构、性质、相互作用、反应机理,蛋白质及功能材料的性能研究,复杂体系化学数据分析中的应用。共引用参考文献78篇。     

High-Pressure Mechanistic Insight into Bioinorganic NO Chemistry

Pressure is one of the most important parameters controlling the kinetics of chemical reactions. The ability to combine high-pressure techniques with time-resolved spectroscopy has provided a powerful tool in the study of reaction mechanisms. This review is focused on the supporting role of high-pressure kinetic and spectroscopic methods in the exploration of nitric oxide bioinorganic chemistry. Nitric oxide and other reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are important biological mediators involved in both physiological and pathological processes. Understanding molecular mechanisms of their interactions with redox-active metal/non-metal centers in biological targets, such as cofactors, prosthetic groups, and proteins, is crucial for the improved therapy of various diseases. The present review is an attempt to demonstrate how the application of high-pressure kinetic and spectroscopic methods can add additional information, thus enabling the mechanistic interpretation of various NO bioinorganic reactions.     

Synthesis, high-resolution millimeter-wave spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations of ethylmercury hydride

The millimeter-wave rotational spectrum of an organomercury compound, ethylmercury hydride, has been recorded and assigned for the first time. The spectroscopic study is complemented by quantum chemical calculations taking into account relativistic effects on the mercury atom. The very good agreement between theoretical and experimental molecular parameters validates the chosen ab initio method, in particular its capability to predict accurate quartic centrifugal distortion constants related to this type of compound. Estimations of the nuclear quadrupole coupling constants have less predictive power than those of the structural parameters, but are good enough to satisfy the spectroscopic needs. In addition, the orientation of the axis of the H-Hg-C bonds deduced from the experimental nuclear quadrupole coupling constants compares well with the corresponding ab initio value. From the good agreement between experimental and theoretical results, together with the observation of the six most abundant isotopes of mercury, ethylmercury hydride is unambiguously identified as the product of the chemical reaction described here, and its calculated equilibrium geometry is confirmed.     

Electron‐Deficient Triborane and Tetraborane Ring Compounds: Synthesis,Structure, and Bonding

Electron‐deficient small boron rings are unique in their formation of σ‐ and π‐delocalized electron systems as well as the avoidance of “classical” structures with two‐center‐two‐electron (2c,2e) bonds. These rings are tolerant of several skeletal electron numbers, which makes their redox chemistry highly interesting. In the past few decades, a range of stable compounds have been synthesized with various electron numbers in their B₃ and B₄ cores. The electronic structures were evaluated by quantum‐chemical calculations. On the other hand, the chemistry of these rings is still very much underdeveloped, being generally limited to the protonation and redox reactions of individual systems. The linkage of several B₃ and/or B₄ ring systems should give compounds with attractive electronic properties, thus leading the way to novel boron‐based materials. By summarizing important experimental and theoretical results, this Review intends to provide the basis for the exploration of the chemistry of these rings and, in particular, their integration into larger molecular architectures.     

有机二硫化物润滑添加剂抗磨极压性能的密度泛函理论研究

用量子化学的密度泛函理论计算了12种有机二硫化物和铁原子簇的分子轨道指数及其与铁原子簇的化学吸附作用能, 探讨了这种作用能与抗磨性能的关系; 运用轨道能量近似原则讨论了有机二硫化物与铁原子的作用方式; 以前线电子密度、超离域性指数和原子净电荷作为判据分析了12种有机二硫化物与铁原子间键合的强弱、反应性的大小等表征有机二硫化物与金属作用强弱的参数。结果表明: 有机二硫化物与铁接触时, 在较缓和条件下, SS键优先断裂与金属发生化学吸附形成配位键, 起到抗磨作用; 在高负荷下, 与金属发生常规条件下不能发生的化学反应, 即CS键断裂生成无机膜, 起到极压作用; 且随着碳链的增长, 有机二硫化物的抗磨性能愈来愈好, 但极压性能愈来愈差; 运用量子化学计算得到的预测结果与摩擦学试验结果具有良好的一致性, 可为同类极压添加剂化合物的分子设计提供较为可靠的参考依据和理论方法。     

Quantum‐chemistry based calibration of the alkali metal cation series (Li+Cs+) for large‐scale polarizable molecular mechanics/dynamics simulations

The alkali metal cations in the series Li⁺? Cs⁺ act as major partners in a diversity of biological processes and in bioinorganic chemistry. In this article, we present the results of their calibration in the context of the SIBFA polarizable molecular mechanics/dynamics procedure. It relies on quantum‐chemistry (QC) energy‐decomposition analyses of their monoligated complexes with representative O? , N? , S? , and Se? ligands, performed with the aug‐cc‐pVTZ(‐f) basis set at the Hartree–Fock level. Close agreement with QC is obtained for each individual contribution, even though the calibration involves only a limited set of cation‐specific parameters. This agreement is preserved in tests on polyligated complexes with four and six O? ligands, water and formamide, indicating the transferability of the procedure. Preliminary extensions to density functional theory calculations are reported.     

Physical properties and inclusion interactions of new stilbazolium salts: experimental versus theoretical study

The experimental and theoretical spectroscopic and spectrometric elucidation in solid-state and gas-phase on the interacting ionic species of applied oriented synthetic derivatives on the base of the stilbazolium salts as molecular template was reported. The correlation between the molecular structure, and vibrational properties within THz-regime (10-0.3 THz) was performed. The collective vibrations, and gas-phase stabilized ionic species were comprehensive studied by the Raman spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, using the embedded organic dyes in host matrixes. The performed solid-state quantum chemical calculations contributed to further understanding of the nature of the guest–host interacting systems as well as to explain the observed optical phenomena within the THz-region.     

尿素晶体介电性能的量子化学计算

利用量子化学的第一性原理,在自洽场理论水平上对尿素晶体的线性和非线性光学介电性质进行了定量计算,获得了与实验值相符的理论计算结果.提供了一种解决分子晶体量子化学理论计算的新思路.     

层状双金属氢氧化物微观结构与性质的理论研究进展

总结了近年来理论计算方法在研究层状双金属氢氧化物(LDHs)结构与功能方面的应用现状. 结合LDHs材料的结构特点, 归纳了量子力学、分子力学、几何建模及物理静电模型相结合对LDHs材料进行结构模拟的思路, 比较了各种方法在LDHs结构模拟上的优势及存在的不足. 量子力学方法能够精确获得水滑石材料的层板构成及作用机制、简单阴离子插层水滑石主客体间的超分子作用实质以及电子性质、反应机理等方面的信息. 与量子力学相比较, 分子力学方法可以快速得到插层水滑石材料的层间阴离子排布及取向、水合膨胀特性及宏观力学性质等. 几何模型和物理静电模型能构建直观、形象的数学模型, 大大简化了计算量,因此能计算接近实际LDHs尺寸的体系, 为推测LDHs结构信息提供了可能性. 随着理论方法和计算机硬件水平的发展, 使得计算机模拟技术逐渐成为获得LDHs材料微观结构参数、电子性质和动力学性质的一种有效手段.     

Computational analysis of the proton translocation from Asp96 to schiff base in bacteriorhodopsin

The potential energy change during the M --> N process in bacteriorhodopsin has been evaluated by ab initio quantum chemical and advanced quantum chemical calculations following molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Many previous experimental studies have suggested that the proton transfer from Asp96 to the Schiff base occurs under the following two conditions: (1) the hydrogen bond between Thr46 and Asp96 breaks and Thr46 is detached from Asp96 and (2) a stable chain of four water molecules spans an area from Asp96 --> Schiff base. In this work, we successfully reproduced the proton-transfer process occurring under these two conditions by molecular dynamics and quantum chemical calculations. The quantum chemical computation revealed that the proton transfer from Asp96 to Shiff base occurs in two-step reactions via an intermediate in which an H(3)O(+) appears around Ala215. The activation energy for the proton transfer in the first reaction was calculated to be 9.7 kcal/mol, which enables fast and efficient proton pump action. Further QM/MM (quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical) and FMO (fragment molecular orbital) calculations revealed that the potential energy change during the proton transfer is tightly regulated by the composition and the geometry of the surrounding amino acid residues of bacteriorhodopsin. Here, we report in detail the Asp96 --> Schiff base proton translocation mechanism of bacteriorhodopsin. Additionally, we discuss the effectiveness of combining quantum chemical calculations with truncated cluster models followed by advanced quantum chemical calculations applied to a whole protein to elucidate its reaction mechanism.     

Combination of spectroscopic and computational methods to get an understanding of supramolecular chemistry of drugs: from simple host systems to biomolecules

Circular dichroism (CD) spectra of non-covalent ligand : biomolecule couples contain information on the equilibrium geometries of the associated structures that can be retrieved upon comparison of the sign and intensity of the experimental CD bands with the quantum mechanically calculated rotational strengths of low energy supramolecular complexes, obtained from molecular modelling methods. For both chiral and achiral ligands this approach proved useful to reach a structure based rationale of ground and excited state properties of the non-covalent ligand : protein associates. In this Perspective we illustrate the potential of this method focusing on the main achievements of our recent spectroscopic, conformational and photochemical studies on drug-albumin complexes and collocate it in the frame of current methodologies of molecular modelling and spectroscopic investigation of ligand : biomolecule binding.     

Quantum chemical methods for the investigation of photoinitiated processes in biological systems: theory and applications.

With the advent of modern computers and advances in the development of efficient quantum chemical computer codes, the meaningful computation of large molecular systems at a quantum mechanical level became feasible. Recent experimental effort to understand photoinitiated processes in biological systems, for instance photosynthesis or vision, at a molecular level also triggered theoretical investigations in this field. In this Minireview, standard quantum chemical methods are presented that are applicable and recently used for the calculation of excited states of photoinitiated processes in biological molecular systems. These methods comprise configuration interaction singles, the complete active space self-consistent field method, and time-dependent density functional theory and its variants. Semiempirical approaches are also covered. Their basic theoretical concepts and mathematical equations are briefly outlined, and their properties and limitations are discussed. Recent successful applications of the methods to photoinitiated processes in biological systems are described and theoretical tools for the analysis of excited states are presented.     

Stereomutation tunneling switching dynamics and parity violation in chlorineperoxide Cl-O-O-Cl

In a search for efficient spectroscopic avenues toward experiments on molecular parity violation, we investigate the stereomutation tunneling processes in the axially chiral chlorine isotopomers of Cl2O2 by the quasi-adiabatic channel reaction path Hamiltonian (RPH) approach and the corresponding parity violating potentials by means of quantum chemical calculations including our recently developed Multiconfiguration linear response (MC-LR) approach to electroweak quantum chemistry. The calculated ground-state torsional tunneling splittings for all isotopomers of Cl2O2 are much smaller than the parity violating energy differences Delta(pv)E between the enantiomers of these molecules and therefore parity violation is predicted to dominate the quantum dynamics of stereomutation at low energies. We also compare these with torsional ground-state tunneling splittings and parity violating energy differences of the whole series of axially chiral HXYH(+) isotopomers (with X, Y= Cl(+), O, S, Se, Te). A comparison with our previous results for the homologous molecule Cl2S2 shows that for Cl2O2 a spectroscopic high-resolution analysis should be easier and the energy region of large tunneling splittings should be more easily accessible by IR excitation. We thus propose a scheme using "tunneling switching" with vibrational excitation in order to carry out the measurement of time-dependent parity violation in superposition states of initially well-defined parity. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of such an experiment that can be carried out entirely in the IR spectral range (for Cl2O2 or related molecules).     

Combined Theoretical and Experimental Studies of Sodium Battery Materials

Owing to developments in theoretical chemistry and computer power, the combination of calculations and experiments is now standard practice in understanding and developing new materials for battery systems. Here, we briefly review our recent combined studies based on density functional theory and molecular dynamics calculations for electrode and electrolyte materials for sodium‐ion batteries. These findings represent case studies of successful combinations of experimental and theoretical methods.     

主族元素AB4型含氧酸根的成键分析——推荐一个研究型计算化学实验

介绍了一个面向高年级本科生的研究型计算化学实验。主族元素AB4型含氧酸根是无机和结构化学理论课程中讨论化学键类型的例子,然而其结果却存在争议。本实验利用常用量子化学软件,通过计算化学方法分析化学成键,验证猜测,并得出结论。旨在通过本实验,锻炼学生对量子化学计算方法的运用,进而加深对化学基础知识的理解。