Which density functional is close to CCSD accuracy to describe geometry and interaction energy of small noncovalent dimers? A benchmark study using Gaussian09

A benchmark study on all possible density functional theory (DFT) methods in Gaussian09 is done to locate functionals that agree well with CCSD/aug‐cc‐pVTZ geometry and Ave‐CCSD(T)/(Q‐T) interaction energy (E_int) for small non‐covalently interacting molecular dimers in “dispersion‐dominated” (class 1), “dipole‐induced dipole” (class 2), and “dipole‐dipole” (class 3) classes. A DFT method is recommended acceptable if the geometry showed close agreement to CCSD result (RMSD < 0.045) and E_int was within 80–120% accuracy. Among 382 tested functionals, 1–46% gave good geometry, 13–44% gave good E_int, while 1–33% satisfied geometry and energy criteria. Further screening to locate the best performing functionals for all the three classes was made by counting the acceptable values of energy and geometry given by each functionals. The meta‐generalized gradient approximation (GGA) functional M06L was the best performer with total 14 hits; seven acceptable energies and seven acceptable geometries. This was the only functional “recommended” for at least two dimers in each class. The functionals M05, B2PLYPD, B971, mPW2PLYPD, PBEB95, and CAM‐B3LYP gave 11 hits while PBEhB95, PW91B95, Wb97x, BRxVP86, BRxP86, HSE2PBE, HSEh1PBE, PBE1PBE, PBEh1PBE, and PW91TPSS gave 10 hits. Among these, M05, B971, mPW2PLYPD, Wb97x, and PW91TPSS were among the “recommended” list of at least one dimer from each class. Long‐range correction (LC) of Hirao and coworkers to exchange‐correlation functionals showed massive improvement in geometry and E_int. The best performing LC‐functionals were LC‐G96KCIS and LC‐PKZBPKZB. Our results predict that M06L is the most trustworthy DFT method in Gaussian09 to study small non‐covalently interacting systems. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Theoretical studies on the kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of atomic hydrogen with carbon dioxide

The potential energy surface for the reaction of hydrogen atom with carbon dioxide is explored by using various quantum chemical methods including W1BD, CBS-QB3, G4, G3B3, CCSD(T), QCISD(T), CCSD, M06-2X, and BB1K.Transition state theory and a modified strong collision/RRKM model are employed to calculate the thermal rate coefficients for the reaction. The results of calculation show that the overall rate constant for the reaction H + CO₂ are pressure-independent over the temperature range of 300 to 3500 K. By using the energies at the W1BD level, the non-Arrhenius expression k = 9.8T ^2.9exp(?74.8 kJ/mol/RT) L mol^?1 s^?1 was found for the reaction.     

HCN exchange on [Cu(HCN)4]+: a quantum chemical investigation

Density functional (B3LYP, B3PW91, X3LYP, BP86, PBEPBE, PW91PW91, and M06) and ab initio (MP2, MP4sdq, CCSD, and CCSD(T)) calculations with extended basis sets (6-311+G**, TZVP, LANL2DZ+p, and SDD+p, the latter including extra polarization and diffuse functions) indicate that HCN exchange on [Cu(HCN)₄]⁺ proceeds via an associative interchange (I_a) mechanism and a D_3h transition structure {[Cu(HCN)₅]⁺}^?. The activation barrier, relative to the model complex [Cu(HCN)₄]⁺·HCN, varies modestly, depending on the computational level. Typical values are 8.0?kcal?M^?1 (B3LYP/6-311+G**), 6.0?kcal?M^?1 (M06/6-311+G**), and 4.8?kcal?M^?1 (CCSD(T)/6-311+G**//MP2(full)/6-311+G**). Inclusion of an implicit solvent model (B3LYP(CPCM)/6-311+G**) leads to an activation barrier of 5.8?kcal?mol^?1. Comparison of the HCN exchange mechanisms on [Li(HCN)₄]⁺ (limiting associative, A) and [Cu(HCN)₄]⁺ (associative interchange, I_a) reveals that π back donation in the equatorial Cu–N bonds in the transition state determines the mechanism.     

A Noncovalent Binding Strategy to Capture Noble Gases,Hydrogen and Nitrogen

A molecular design strategy to develop receptor systems for the entrapment of noble gases, H₂ and N₂ is described using M06L‐D3/6‐311++G(d,p)//M06L/6‐311++G(d,p) DFT method. These receptors made with two‐, three‐, four‐ and five‐fluorinated benzene cores, linked with methelene units viz. R_I, R_II, R_III and R_IV as well as the corresponding non‐fluorinated hydrocarbons viz. R_IH, R_IIH, R_IIIH and R_IVH show a steady and significant increase in binding energy (E_int) with increase in the number of aromatic rings in the receptor. A stabilizing “cage effect” is observed in the cyclophane type receptors R_IV and R_IVH which is 26–48% of total E_int for all except the larger sized Kr, Xe and N₂ complexes. E_int of R_IV…He, R_IV…Ne, R_IV…Ar, R_IV…Kr, R_IV…H₂ and R_IV…N₂ is 4.89, 7.03, 6.49, 6.19, 8.57 and 8.17 kcal/mol, respectively which is 5‐ to9‐fold higher than that of hexafluorobenzene. Similarly, compared to benzene, multiple fold increase in E_int is observed for R_IVH receptors with noble gases, H₂ and N₂. Fluorination of the aromatic core has no significant impact on E_int (∼ ±0.5 kcal/mol) for most of the systems with a notable exception of the cage receptor R_IV for N₂ where fluorination improves E_int by 1.61 kcal/mol. The E_int of the cage receptors may be projected as one of the highest interaction energy ranges reported for noble gases, H₂ and N₂ for a neutral carbon framework. Synthesis of such systems is promising in the study of molecules in confined environment. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ab Initio Study on the Potential Energy Surfaces of B4 Cluster

The singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PES) for the isomerization and dissociation reactions of B₄ isomers have been investigated using ab initio methods. Ten B4 isomers have been identified and of these 10 species, 4 have not been reported previously. The singlet rhombic structure ¹1 is found to be the most stable on the B₄ surface, in agreement with the results of previous reports. Several isomerization and dissociation pathways have been found. On the singlet PES, the linear ¹3b can rearrange to rhombus ¹1 directly, while ¹3c rearranges to ¹1 through two‐step reactions involving a cyclic intermediate. On the triplet PES, the capped triangle structure ³2 undergoes ring opening to the linear isomer ³3b with a barrier of 34.8 kcal/mol and 44.9 kcal/mol, and the latter undergoes ring closure to the square structure ³1 with a barrier of 30.4 kcal/mol and 33.0 kcal/mol at the MP4/6–311+G(3df)//MP2/6–311G(d) and CCSD/aug‐cc‐pVTZ//MP2/6–311G(d) levels of theory, respectively. The direct decomposition of singlet B₄ yielding to B₃+B is shown to have a large endothermicity of 87.3 kcal/mol (CCSD), and that producing 2B₂ to have activation energy of 133.4 kcal/mol (CCSD).     

Electron Capture by the Thiyl Radical and Disulfide Bond: Ligand Effects on the Reduction Potential

The effect of non‐polar and polar ligands and of monovalent cations on the one‐electron reduction potential of the thiyl radical and the disulfide bond was evaluated. The reduction potentials E° for the CH₃S^.–n L/CH₃S^?–n L and CH₃SSCH₃–L/CH₃SSCH₃^.?–L redox couples were calculated at the B3LYP, M06‐2X and MP2 levels of theory, with n=1, 2 and L=CH₄, C₂H₄, H₂O, CH₃OH, NH₃, CH₃COOH, CH₃CONH₂, NH₄⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and Li⁺. Non‐polar ligands decrease the E° value of the thiyl radical and disulfide bond, while neutral polar ligands favour electron uptake. Charged polar ligands and cations favour electron capture by the thiyl radical while disfavouring electron uptake by the disulfide bond. Thus, the same type of ligand can have a different effect on E° depending on the redox couple. Therefore, properties of an isolated ligand cannot uniquely determine E°. The ligand effects on E° are discussed in terms of the vertical electron affinity and reorganization energy, as well as molecular orbital theory. For a given redox couple, the ligand type influences the nature of the anion formed upon electron capture and the corresponding reorganization process towards the reduced geometry.     

Ab initio pseudopotential study of M2As− and M2Br+ (M = Cu,Ag, Au)

The equilibrium geometries and the vibration frequencies of M₂As⁻ and M₂Br⁺ (M = Cu, Ag, Au) are calculated at the Hartree–Fock (HF) and the second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2) levels with pseudopotentials. The calculated results indicate that the species have a bent structure (C_2v). The electron correlation corrections on the geometrical structure are investigated at the MP2 level, the bond angles are reduced by 10°–20° for considered species. The electron correlation effects on the geometry of the Au₂As⁻ are studied particularly at MP2, MP3, MP4, CCSD and CCSD(T) levels. Comparing the species containing Ag and Au, the relativistic effects slightly short the bond lengths of the species. The bonding possibility of the Au₂As⁻ is predicted. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 80: 38–43, 2000     

Proton affinities of ketones, vicinal diketones and α-keto esters: a computational study

The proton affinities of seven different ketones, vicinal diketones, and α-keto esters (acetophenone, 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone, 2,3-butanedione, 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione, methyl pyruvate, ethyl benzoylformate, and ketopantolactone) have been evaluated theoretically using the conventional ab initio HF and several post-HF methods (MP2, MP4, CCSD), density functional methods with the B3LYP hybrid functional, as well as some ab initio model chemistries [CBS-4M, G2(MP2), and G3(MP2)//B3LYP]. The chemical compounds studied are frequently used substrates in the asymmetric hydrogenation over chirally modified platinum catalysts where the protonation properties of the chiral modifier and the substrates are of great interest. In most cases, the proton affinities (PAs) evaluated with the CCSD/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/TZVP and G2(MP2) methods are in good agreement with the existing experimental ones. However, the previously reported PA of 2,3-butanedione seems to be too high by 10-15 kJ mol⁻¹. The B3LYP/TZVP//B3LYP/TZVP and MP2/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/TZVP model chemistries predict proton affinities that are systematically higher and lower than the experimental PAs, respectively. If proton affinities are evaluated as the average of the PAs calculated with these two theoretical methods a very good agreement with the experimental results is obtained. The mean absolute deviation (MAD) from experiment of this combination method for the PAs of 13 test molecules is 4.0 kJ mol⁻¹. For 9 molecules composed only of first-row atoms the MAD is 2.5 kJ mol⁻¹. The B3LYP/TZVP//B3LYP/TZVP and MP2/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/TZVP methods provide significant savings in computational time and disk space compared to the CCSD/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/TZVP and G2(MP2) models. Therefore, it is suggested that if no experimental or highly accurate theoretical data is available (due to computational cost), the proton affinities of similar compounds as investigated in this paper, can be evaluated with the combination method. For the studied molecules, this method gives the following PAs (in kJ mol⁻¹): 788 (2,3-butanedione, exptl 802); 798 (2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone, exptl 799); 811 (ketopantolactone); 813 (methyl pyruvate); 825 (1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione); 862 (acetophenone, exptl 861); 865 (ethyl benzoylformate).     

Magnitude and origin of the attraction and directionality of the halogen bonds of the complexes of C6F5X and C6H5X (X = I, Br, Cl and F) with pyridine

The geometries and interaction energies of complexes of pyridine with C₆F₅X, C₆H₅X (X=I, Br, Cl, F and H) and R_FI (R_F=CF₃, C₂F₅ and C₃F₇) have been studied by ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The CCSD(T) interaction energies (E_int) for the C₆F₅X–pyridine (X=I, Br, Cl, F and H) complexes at the basis set limit were estimated to be ?5.59, ?4.06, ?2.78, ?0.19 and ?4.37 kcal mol^?1, respectively, whereas the E_int values for the C₆H₅X–pyridine (X=I, Br, Cl and H) complexes were estimated to be ?3.27, ?2.17, ?1.23 and ?1.78 kcal mol^?1, respectively. Electrostatic interactions are the cause of the halogen dependence of the interaction energies and the enhancement of the attraction by the fluorine atoms in C₆F₅X. The values of E_int estimated for the R_FI–pyridine (R_F=CF₃, C₂F₅ and C₃F₇) complexes (?5.14, ?5.38 and ?5.44 kcal mol^?1, respectively) are close to that for the C₆F₅I–pyridine complex. Electrostatic interactions are the major source of the attraction in the strong halogen bond although induction and dispersion interactions also contribute to the attraction. Short‐range (charge‐transfer) interactions do not contribute significantly to the attraction. The magnitude of the directionality of the halogen bond correlates with the magnitude of the attraction. Electrostatic interactions are mainly responsible for the directionality of the halogen bond. The directionality of halogen bonds involving iodine and bromine is high, whereas that of chlorine is low and that of fluorine is negligible. The directionality of the halogen bonds in the C₆F₅I– and C₂F₅I–pyridine complexes is higher than that in the hydrogen bonds in the water dimer and water–formaldehyde complex. The calculations suggest that the C? I and C? Br halogen bonds play an important role in controlling the structures of molecular assemblies, that the C? Cl bonds play a less important role and that C? F bonds have a negligible impact.     

Mass spectra of halogenated esters: 8. Methyl esters of 2,3-dichloro-, bromochloro- and dibromopropenoic acids

The mass spectral fragmentation of methyl esters of E and Z isomers of 2,3-dichloro-, 2-bromo-3-chloro-, 3-bromo-2-chIoro- and 2,3-dibromopropenoic acids have been investigated. The M^+˙ peak is shown with all isomers, the [M ? OCH₃]⁺, [M ? X]⁺, [M ? OCH₃ ? CO]⁺, [M ? OCH₃ ? CO ? X]^+˙ and [M ? OCH₃ ? CO ? X ? X]⁺ ions constituting abundant peaks in all spectra. The results, particularly from the bromochloro isomers, show that a halogen atom is eliminated from the 3- rather than the 2- position and from the Z rather than the E isomer. Bromine as a bulky atom is preferentially lost.     

The Menshutkin Reaction in the Gas Phase and in Aqueous Solution: A Valence Bond Study

The recently developed (L. Song, W. Wu, Q. Zhang, S. Shaik, J. Phys. Chem. A 2004 , 108, 6017–6024) valence bond method coupled to a polarized continuum model (VBPCM) is applied to the Menshutkin reaction, NH₃+CH₃Cl→CH₃NH₃⁺+Cl^?, in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. The computed barriers and reaction energies at the level of the breathing orbital VB method (P. C. Hiberty, J. P. Flament, E. Noizet, Chem. Phys. Lett. 1992 , 189, 259), BOVB and VBPCM//BOVB, are comparable to CCSD(T) and CCSD(T)//PCM results and to experimental values in solution. The gas‐phase reaction is endothermic and leads to an ion‐pair complex via a late transition state. By contrast, the reaction in the aqueous phase is exothermic and leads to separate solvated ions as reaction products, via an early transition state. The VB calculations provide also the reactivity parameters needed to apply the valence bond state correlation diagram method, VBSCD (S. Shaik, A. Shurki, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1999 , 38, 586). It is shown that the reactivity parameters along with their semiempirical derivations provide together a satisfactory qualitative and quantitative account of the barriers.     

Own N-layered integrated molecular orbital and molecular mechanics study of the reaction of OH<Superscript>−</Superscript> with polychlorinated hydrocarbons CH<Subscript>(4−n)</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>n</Subscript> (n=2–4)

The reliability of the two-layer own N-layered integrated molecular orbital and molecular mechanics (ONIOM) method was examined for the S_N2 reaction CH_(4–n)Cl_n+OH^–. In the ONIOM calculation, only the methyl chloride and OH^–were treated at a high level and the effect of polychlorination was taken into account only at a low level. The ONIOM results were compared with the target CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ//MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ results obtained by Borisov etal. [(2001) J. Phys. Chem. A 105:7724]. The ONIOM[MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ:B3LYP/6-31+G(d)] was found to reproduce well the target geometry and energy at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level. The single-point improved energetics at the ONIOM[CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ:MP2/6-31+G(d)] is found to give results nearly as accurate as the target CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ//MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ results. The substantially reduced cost, 20% for optimization and 5% for single-point improved energy of the target cost for n=4, as well as small errors suggest that ONIOM is a powerful tool for accurate potential-energy surfaces of the reaction of large polyhalohydrocarbons.     

Formic acid catalyzed gas-phase reaction of H2O with SO3 and the reverse reaction: a theoretical study

The formic acid catalyzed gas‐phase reaction between H₂O and SO₃ and its reverse reaction are respectively investigated by means of quantum chemical calculations at the CCSD(T)//B3LYP/cc‐pv(T+d)z and CCSD(T)//MP2/aug‐cc‐pv(T+d)z levels of theory. Remarkably, the activation energy relative to the reactants for the reaction of H₂O with SO₃ is lowered through formic acid catalysis from 15.97 kcal mol^?1 to ?15.12 and ?14.83 kcal mol^?1 for the formed H₂O ??? SO₃ complex plus HCOOH and the formed H₂O ??? HCOOH complex plus SO₃, respectively, at the CCSD(T)//MP2/aug‐cc‐pv(T+d)z level. For the reverse reaction, the energy barrier for decomposition of sulfuric acid is reduced to ?3.07 kcal mol^?1 from 35.82 kcal mol^?1 with the aid of formic acid. The results show that formic acid plays a strong catalytic role in facilitating the formation and decomposition of sulfuric acid. The rate constant of the SO₃+H₂O reaction with formic acid is 10⁵ times greater than that of the corresponding reaction with water dimer. The calculated rate constant for the HCOOH+H₂SO₄ reaction is about 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 in the temperature range 200–280 K. The results of the present investigation show that formic acid plays a crucial role in the cycle between SO₃ and H₂SO₄ in atmospheric chemistry.     

Nickel-catalyzed alkyl coupling reactions: evaluation of computational methods

The B3LYP, M06, M06L, M062X, MPW1K, and PBE1PBE DFT methods were evaluated for modeling nickel-catalyzed coupling reactions. The reaction consists of a nucleophilic attack by a carbanion equivalent on the nickel complex, S(N)2 attack by the anionic nickel complex on an alkyl halide, and reductive elimination of the coupled alkane product, regenerating the nickel catalyst. On the basis of CCSD(T)//DFT single-point energies, the B3LYP, M06, and PBE1PBE functionals were judged to generate the best ground state geometries. M06 energies are generally comparable or superior to B3LYP and PBE1PBE energies for transition state calculations. The MP2 and CCSD methods were also evaluated for single-point energies at the M06 geometries. The rate-determining step of this reaction was found to be nucleophilic attack of a L(2)NiR anion on the alkyl halide.     

Stabilization of HHeF by Complexation: Is it a Really Viable Strategy?

Ab initio calculations at the MP2 and CCSD(T) levels of theory have disclosed the conceivable existence of fluorine‐coordinated complexes of HHeF with alkali‐metal ions and molecules M⁺ (M⁺=Li⁺–Cs⁺), M⁺–OH₂, M⁺–NH₃ (M⁺=Li⁺, Na⁺), and MX (M=Li, Na; X=F, Cl, Br). All these ligands L induce a shortening of the H? He distance and a lengthening of the He? F distance accompanied by consistent blue‐ and redshifts, respectively, of the H? He and He? F stretching modes. These structural effects are qualitatively similar to those predicted for other investigated complexes of the noble gas hydrides HNgY, but are quantitatively more pronounced. For example, the blueshifts of the H? He stretching mode are exceptionally large, ranging between around 750 and 1000 cm^?1. The interactions of HHeF with the ligands investigated herein also enhance the (HHe)⁺F^? dipole character and produce large complexation energies of around 20–60 kcal mol^?1. Most of the HHeF–L complexes are indeed so stable that the three‐body dissociation of HHeF into H+He+F, exothermic by around 25–30 kcal mol^?1, becomes endothermic. This effect is, however, accompanied by a strong decrease in the H? He? F bending barrier. The complexation energies, ΔE, and the bending barriers, E*, are, in particular, related by the inverse relationship E*(kcal mol^?1)=6.9exp[?0.041ΔE(kcal mol^?1)]. Therefore the HHeF? L complexes, which are definitely stable with respect to H+He+F+L (ΔE≈25–30 kcal mol^?1), are predicted to have bending barriers of only 0.5–2 kcal mol^?1. Overall, our calculations cast doubt on the conceivable stabilization of HHeF by complexation.     

Metastable Dianions and Dications

A theoretical study of metastable dianions and dications has been carried out at the CCSD(T)//MP2 level. MX₃²⁻ and LX₄²⁻ (M=Li and Na, L=Be and Mg, X=F and Cl) have been considered as dianions, M₃X²⁺ (M=Li and Na, X=F and Cl), YH₃²⁺ and ZH₄²⁺ (Y=F and Cl and Z=O, S) as dications. Minima structures are found in all cases, but they are less stable than the corresponding dissociated pair of mono-ions. The dissociation profile of the molecules in two mono-ions has been explored showing in all cases a maximum that prevent their spontaneous dissociation. The strength and nature of the chemical bond in the dianions and dications have been analyzed with the QTAIM, NBO and LMOEDA method and compared to the corresponding monoanions and monocations.     

Conformational study of the structure of free 12-thiacrown-4 and some of its cation metal complexes

Conformational search of 12-thiacrown-4, 12t4, was performed using the CONFLEX method and the MMFF94S force field whereby 156 conformations were predicted. Optimized geometries of the 156 predicted conformations were calculated at the HF, B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP, M06, M06L, M062x and M06HF levels using the 6-311G** basis set. The correlation energy was recovered at the MP2 level using the same 6-311G** basis set. Optimized geometries at the MP2/6-311G** level and G3MP2 energies were calculated for some of the low energy conformations. The D ₄ conformation was predicted to be the ground state conformation at all levels of theory considered in this work. Comparison between the dihedral angles of the predicted conformations indicated that for the stability of 12t4, a SCCS dihedral angle of 180° requirement is more important than a gauche CSCC dihedral angle requirement. Conformational search was performed also for the 12t4?CAg⁺, Bi³⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu⁺ and Sb³⁺ cation metal complexes using the CONFLEX method and the CAChe-augmented MM3 and MMFF94S force fields. Conformations with relative energies less than 10?kcal/mol at the MP2/6-31+G*//HF/6-31+G* level, with double zeta quality basis set on the metal cations, were considered for computations at the same levels as those used for free 12t4, using also the 6-311G** basis set. The cc-pVTZ-pp basis set was used for the metal cations. The predicted ground state conformations of the 12t4?CAg⁺, Bi³⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu⁺ and Sb³⁺ cation metal complexes are the C ₄, C ₄, C ₄, C _2v and C ₄ conformations, respectively. This is in agreement with the experimental X-ray data for the 12t4?CAg⁺ and Cd²⁺ cation metal complexes, but experimentally by X-ray, the 12t4?CBi³⁺ and Cu⁺ cation metal complexes have C _s and C ₄ structures, respectively.     

σ-Hole bond tunability in YO<Subscript>2</Subscript>X<Subscript>2</Subscript>:NH<Subscript>3</Subscript> and YO<Subscript>2</Subscript>X<Subscript>2</Subscript>:H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O complexes (X = F,Cl, Br; Y = S,Se): trends and theoretical aspects

A σ-hole is defined as an electron-deficient region on the extension of a covalently bonded group IV–VII atoms. If the electronic density in the σ-hole is sufficiently low, then this region will have a positive electrostatic potential, which allows attractive noncovalent interactions with negative sites. SO₂X₂ and SeO₂X₂ (X = F, Cl and Br) have three Lewis acid sites of σ-hole located in the outermost of chalcogen atom and X end, participating in the chalcogen and halogen bonds with NH₃ and H₂O, respectively. MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ and M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations reveal that for a given halogen atom, SeO₂X₂ forms stronger chalcogen bond interactions than SO₂X₂ counterpart. Almost a perfect linear relationship is evident between the interaction energies and the magnitudes of the product of most positive and negative electrostatic potentials. The interaction energies calculated by M06-2X and MP2 methods are almost consistent with each other.     

Characterization of the potential energy surfaces of two small but challenging noncovalent dimers: (P2)2 and (PCCP)2

This work characterizes eight stationary points of the P₂ dimer and six stationary points of the PCCP dimer, including a newly identified minimum on both potential energy surfaces. Full geometry optimizations and corresponding harmonic vibrational frequencies were computed with the second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2) electronic structure method and six different basis sets: aug‐cc‐pVXZ, aug‐cc‐pV(X+d)Z, and aug‐cc‐pCVXZ where X = T, Q. A new L‐shaped structure with C₂ symmetry is the only minimum for the P₂ dimer at the MP2 level of theory with these basis sets. The previously reported parallel‐slipped structure with C_2h symmetry and a newly identified cross configuration with D₂ symmetry are the only minima for the PCCP dimer. Single point energies were also computed using the canonical MP2 and CCSD(T) methods as well as the explicitly correlated MP2‐F12 and CCSD(T)‐F12 methods and the aug‐cc‐pVXZ (X = D, T, Q, 5) basis sets. The energetics obtained with the explicitly correlated methods were very similar to the canonical results for the larger basis sets. Extrapolations were performed to estimate the complete basis set (CBS) limit MP2 and CCSD(T) binding energies. MP2 and MP2‐F12 significantly overbind the P₂ and PCCP dimers relative to the CCSD(T) and CCSD(T)‐F12 binding energies by as much as 1.5 kcal mol^?1 for the former and 5.0 kcal mol^?1 for the latter at the CBS limit. The dominant attractive component of the interaction energy for each dimer configuration was dispersion according to several symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory analyses. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Orientational Preference of Long,Multicenter Bonds in Radical Anion Dimers: A Case Study of π‐[TCNB]22− and π‐[TCNP]22−

The similar shape and electronic structure of the radical anions of 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanopyrazine (TCNP) and 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) suggest a similar relative orientation for their long, multicenter carbon?carbon bond in π‐[TCNP]₂^2? and in π‐[TCNB]₂^2?, in good accord with the Maximin Principle predictions. Instead, the two known structures of π‐[TCNP]₂^2? have a D_2h(θ=0°) and a C₂(θ=30°) orientation (θ being the dihedral angle that determines the rotation of one radical anion relative to the other along the axis that passes through center of the two six‐membered rings). The only known π‐[TCNB]₂^2? structure has a C₂(θ=60°) orientation. The origin of these preferences was investigated for both dimers by computing (at the RASPT2/RASSCF(30,28) level) the variation with θ of the interaction energy (E_int) and the variation of the E_int components. It was found that: 1) a long, multicenter bond exists for all orientations; 2) the E_int(θ) angular dependence is similar in both dimers; 3) for all orientations the electrostatic component dominates the value of E_int(θ), although the dispersion and bonding components also play a relevant role; and 4) the Maximin Principle curve reproduces well the shape of the E_int(θ) curve for isolated dimers, although none of them reproduce the experimental preferences. Only after the (radical anion)^.? ??? cation⁺ interactions are also included in the model aggregate are the experimental data reproduced computationally.