Does CH prefer a C2v rather than a Cs structure?

The closely related C_s ( 1 ) and C_2v ( 3 ) structures of CH have been reinvestigated at many ab initio levels using MP2/6-31G** and MP2/6-311 + + G(2df, 2pd) geometries. The largest basis sets employed were 6-311G(3df, 2p), 6-311 + + G(3df, 3pd), and the Dunning “correlation consistent” polarized triple-split valence basis set (cc-pVTZ). Electron correlation was probed at the MP4 level, but the QCISD method was also used with the largest basis sets. While electron correlation favors 3 over 1 by about 2 kcal/mol, the correlated relative energies with all basis sets employed range from 0.36–1.03 kcal/mol in favor of 1 . The best estimate of this difference, 0.86 kcal/mol, is essentially identical with the (scaled) zero-point energy difference, 0.84 kcal/mol, favoring 3 over 1 . These results indicate that 1 and 3 have almost exactly the same energy at 0 K. Our best value for the dissociation energy of CH is 42.0 kcal/mol [QCISD(T)/6-311 + + G(3df, 3pd)//MP2(fu)/6-311 + + G(2df, 2pd), corrected to 298 K], which agrees very well with the experimental value. © 1992 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On the additivity of basis set effects in some simple fluorine containing systems

The reactions F + H₂ → HF + H, HF → H + F, F → F⁺ + e^? and F + e^? → F^? were used as simple test cases to assess the additivity of basis set effects on reaction energetics computed at the MP4 level. The 6-31G and 6-311G basis sets were augmented with 1, 2, and 3 sets of polarization functions, higher angular momentum polarization functions, and diffuse functions (27 basis sets from 6-31Gd, p) to 6-31 ++ G(3df, 3pd) and likewise for the 6-311G series). For both series substantial nonadditivity was found between diffuse functions on the heavy atom and multiple polarization functions (e.g., 6-31 + G(3d, 3p) vs. 6-31 + G(d, p) and 6-31G(3d, 3p)). For the 6-311G series there is an extra nonadditivity between d functions on hydrogen and multiple polarization functions. Provided that these interactions are taken into account, the remaining basis set effects are additive to within ±0.5 kcal/mol for the reactions considered. Large basis set MP4 calculations can also be estimated to within ±0.5 kcal/mol using MP2 calculations, est. E_MP4(6-31 ++ G(3df, 3pd)) ≈ E_MP4(6-31G(d, p)) + E_MP2(6-31 ++ G(3df, 3pd)) – E_MP2(6-31G(d, p)) or E_MP4(6-31 + G(d, p) + E_MP2(6-31 ++ G(3df, 3pd)) – E_MP2(6-31 + G(d, p)) and likewise for the 6-311G series.     

Ab initio study on the reaction mechanism of ozone with bromine atom

Ab initio calculations of the potential energy surface (PES) for the Br+O₃ reaction have been performed using the MP2, CCSD(T), and QCISD(T) methods with 6‐31G(d), 6‐311G(d), and 6‐311+G(3df). The reaction begins with a transition state (TS) when the Br atom attacks a terminal oxygen of ozone, producing an intermediate, the bromine trioxide (M), which immediately dissociates to BrO+O₂. The geometry optimizations of the reactants, products, and intermediate and transition states are carried out at the MP2/6‐31G(d) level. The reaction potential barrier is 3.09 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(3df)//MP2 level, which shows that the bromine atom trends intensively to react with the ozone. The comparison of the Br+O₃ reaction with the F+O₃ and Cl+O₃ reactions indicates that the reactions of ozone with the halogen atoms have the similar reaction mechanism. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Theoretical prediction of the contact distance dependence of the electron transfer reactivity of the ClO/ClO− coupling system

On the basis of the structures and properties of the ClO/ClO^? system obtained at the density functional theory (DFT) (UB3LYP) level, employing the 6‐311+G(3df) standard basis set, the electron transfer reactivity of this system is investigated. The results indicate that there are five possible stable coupling complexes that correspond to the generous minima on the global potential energy surfaces (PES). The most stable coupling complex is planar EC4, in which there is a O? O linkage with two trans‐Cl atoms. Their stabilization energies are calculated to be 20.57 (EC1: C₁), 20.54 (EC2: C₂, ²B), 20.69 (EC3: C₁), 20.70 (EC4: C_s, ²A′), and 20.69 (EC.5: C_2h, ²B_u) kcal/mol at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(3df) level; with the correction of the basis set superposition error (BSSE), the stability order of these encounter complexes is EC4 > EC.5 > EC3 > EC1 > EC2. Based on the five encounter complexes, five coupling modes are designed for the study of the electron transfer reactivity of this system. The dissociation energy curves at the activated states and the corresponding activation energies of these five coupling modes are obtained and are compared at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(3df) and MP2/6‐311+G* levels. The inapplicability of DFT methods has also been discussed in this article in predicting the energy curves, especially with a long contact distance, in which DFT methods give the abnormal behavior for the dissociations of the complexes caused by the “inverse symmetry breaking” problem. On the basis of the golden rule of the time‐dependent perturbation theory, the electron transfer reactivity and the contact distance dependence of the various electron transfer kinetics parameters (e.g., activation energy, coupling matrix element) have been analyzed at the UMP2(full)/6‐311+G* level. The electron transfer can take place over a range of contact distances, but the most effective coupling distance corresponds to only a small range. The coupling orientation analyses also indicate that the most favorable coupling mode to the electron transfer does not always correspond to the most stable encounter complex mechanism. Some highly energetic coupling modes are more favorable for the electron transfer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Post-Hartree-Fock and DFT level studies on the Cl2CO …︁ Cl2 complex: Accurate molecular parameters,harmonic vibrational frequencies,and interaction energies

The Cl₂CO …︁ Cl₂ complex was studied using ab initio post-Hartree-Fock theory at the MP2 and MP4 levels and, for comparison, the DFT method with 6-311G(2d), 6-311 + G(2d), and Sadlej's medium-size polarized (MSPBS) basis sets. A potential energy search recovered a planar minimum-energy structure characterized by a bent conformation. For this weakly bound complex, the interaction energy corrected for the basis set superposition error amounted to − 0.88, − 1.09, − 1.43, and − 0.38 kcal/mol at the MP4(SDTQ)/6-311G(2d), MP4(SDTQ)/6-311 + G(2d), MP4(SDTQ)/MSPBS, and DFT(Becke3LYP)/6-311 + G(2d) levels of theory, respectively. Two highly symmetrical forms, linear and T-shaped, correspond to transition-state conformers. The analysis of harmonic vibrational frequencies and potential energy distribution was performed at the MP2 and DFT levels with the 6-311 + G(2d) basis set. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Influence of diffuse and polarization functions on the second-order Møller–Plesset optimized dihedral angle of biphenyl

 Using 6-31G and 6-311G basis sets to which diffuse and polarization functions were added in a stepwise fashion (a total of 16 basis sets), Hartree–Fock (HF), MP2 and B3LYP geometry optimizations were performed on biphenyl. With the MP2 method, diffuse functions raise the dihedral angle φ, for example, from 46.3° for 6-31G to 54.1° for 6-311++G, while polarization functions lower it, for example, from 54.1° for 6-311++G to 42.1° for 6-311++G(2d,2p). For a single set of polarization functions, φ(MP2) lies close to or above φ(HF) (44–47°), but for a double set it is below φ(HF) and is close to B3LYP values (38–42°) which show little basis set dependence. The most reliable value for φ, 42.1° [MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p)], is expected to increase slightly by adding more diffuse functions. The corresponding best calculated energy barrier at 0° (coplanar conformation) is 2.83 kcal/mol, much higher than the experimental estimate (1.4 ± 0.5 kcal/mol). The barrier at 90° is 1.82 kcal/mol, in line with the experimental estimate (1.6 ± 0.5 kcal/mol) and with previous theoretical results. Received: 9 September 2002 / Accepted: 15 November 2002 / Published online: 1 April 2003 Correspondence to: Friedrich Grein e-mail: fritz@unb.ca Acknowledgement. The author would like to thank NSERC (Canada) for financial support.     

Ab initio investigation on stability and properties of XYCO... HZ complexes. II: Post hartree-fock studies on H2CO... HF

Ab initio MP2 level of theory in conjunction with three basis sets of a triple-zeta quality was applied to study the molecular geometry and stability of the H₂CO... HF complex. An interaction energy predicted for this system at the highest, MP4(SDTQ)/6-311 + +G(2df, 2pd)//MP2/6-311 + +G(2df, 2pd), level corrected for the BSSE and ZPE contributions amounts to -4.85 kcal/ mol. BSSE contributes significantly to the interaction energies at all applied levels. Reliable MP2/ 6-311 + +G(2df, 2pd) level harmonic vibrational frequencies, IR intensities, and the predicted isotopic shifts upon deuteration and¹⁸O substitution are presented in order to facilitate experimental studies on the IR spectrum of the title complex.     

Isomerization study of C5H5NO molecules

The complex potential energy surface (PES) for the isomerization of C₅H₅NO species, including 18 isomers and 23 interconversion transition states, is probed theoretically at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) and MP2//B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) levels of theory. The geometries and relative energies for various stationary points were determined. The zero‐point vibrational energy (ZPVE) corrections have been made to calculate the reliable energy. We predicted a six‐membered ring structure as a global minima isomer I, which is 118.49 and 131.48 kcal · mol^?1 more stable than the least stable, four‐ and three‐membered ring isomer VIII at B3LYP and MP2//B3LYP levels of theory, respectively. The isomers and interconversion transition states have verified by frequency calculation. The intrinsic reaction coordinates (IRC) calculations have been performed to confirm that each transition state is linked by the desired reactants and products. The isomer stability has been studied using relative energies, chemical hardness, and chemical potential. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Correlated one‐electron wave functions

Using four basis sets, 6‐311G(d,p), 6‐31+G(d,p), 6‐311++G(2d,2p), and 6‐311++G(3df,3pd), the optimized structures with all real frequencies were obtained at the MP2 level for dimers CH₂O? HF, CH₂O? H₂O, CH₂O? NH₃, and CH₂O? CH₄. The structures of CH₂O? HF, CH₂O? H₂O, and CH₂O? NH₃ are cycle‐shaped, which result from the larger bend of σ‐type hydrogen bonds. The bend of σ‐type H‐bond O…H? Y (Y?F, O, N) is illustrated and interpreted by an attractive interaction of a chemically intuitive π‐type hydrogen bond. The π‐type hydrogen bond is the interaction between one of the acidic H atoms of CH₂O and lone pair(s) on the F atom in HF, the O atom in H₂O, or the N atom in NH₃. By contrast with above the three dimers, for CH₂O? CH₄, because there is not a π‐type hydrogen‐bond to bend its linear hydrogen bond, the structure of CH₂O? CH₄ is a noncyclic shaped. The interaction energy of hydrogen bonds and the π‐type H‐bond are calculated and discussed at the CCSD(T)/6‐311++G(3df,3pd) level. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Kinetic parameters for the reaction of hydroxyl radical with CH3OCH2F (HFE‐161) in the temperature range of 200–400 K: Transition state theory and Ab initio calculations

Rate coefficients for the reaction of the hydroxyl radical with CH₃OCH₂F (HFE‐161) were computed using transition state theory coupled with ab initio methods, viz., MP2, G3MP2, and G3B3 theories in the temperature range of 200–400 K. Structures of the reactants and transition states (TSs) were optimized at MP2(FULL) and B3LYP level of theories with 6‐31G* and 6‐311++G** basis sets. The potential energy surface was scanned at both the level of theories. Five different TSs were identified for each rotamer. Calculations of Intrinsic reaction coordinates were performed to confirm the existence of all the TSs. The kinetic parameters due to all different TSs are reported in this article. The rate coefficients for the title reaction were computed to be k = (9 ± 1.08) × 10^?13 exp [?(1,713 ± 33)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at MP2, k = (7.36 ± 0.42) × 10^?13 exp [?(198 ± 16)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at G3MP2 and k = (5.36 ± 1.57) × 10^?13 exp [?(412 ± 81)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at G3B3 theories. The atmospheric lifetimes of CH₃OCH₂F at MP2, G3MP2, and G3B3 level of theories were estimated to be 20, 0.1, and 0.3 years, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Study of conformational and optical rotation for the alaninamide

Six stationary points of alaninamide have been located on the potential surface energy (PES) at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(2d,2p) level of theory both in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. In the aqueous solution, to take the water solvent effect into account, the polarizable continuum model (PCM) method has been used. Accurate geometric structures and their relative stabilities have been investigated. The results show that the intramolecular hydrogen bond plays a very important role in stabilizing the global minimum of the alaninamide. Moreover, the consistent result in relative energy using high‐level computations, including the MP2 and MP3 methods with the same basis set [6‐311++G(2d,2p)], indicates that the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level may be applied to the analogue system. More importantly, the optical rotation of the optimized conformers (both in the gas phase and in aqueous solution) of alaninamide have been calculated using the density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree–Fock (HF) method at various basis sets (6‐31+G*, 6‐311++G(d,p), 6‐311++G(2d,2p) and aug‐cc‐pvdz). The results show that the selection of the computation method and the basis set in calculation has great influence on the results of the optical rotations. The reliability of the HF method is less than that of DFT, and selecting the basis set of 6‐311++G(2d,2p) and aug‐cc‐pvDZ produces relative reliable results. Analysis of the computational results of the structure parameters and the optical rotations yields the conclusion that just the helixes in molecules caused the chiral molecules to be optical active. The Boltzmann equilibrium distributions for the six conformers (both in the gas phase and in the aqueous solution) are also carried out. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Density functional calculations of difluorodiazete structures with Gaussian-orbital-type approach

The comparison of local nonlocal and hybrid DFT methods with RHF , MP 2, CCSD , and CPF ab initio methods in generating geometries and relative energies of cis- and trans-difluorodiazete, SVWN , BLYP , BP 86, BECKE 3LYP , and BECKE 3P 86 DFT methods with 6-311 + g(2d) and 6-311 + + g(3df) basis sets. The geometries generated with RHF ab initio models are quite different from experimental values and energy evaluation prefers the wrong isomer. The hybrid methods give superior geometries while energies evaluated with nonlocal DFT methods are better than the one obtained with MP 2 or CCDS ab initio methods. The results suggest DFT as the method of choice of studying similar systems. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Density functional calculations of the pseudorotational flexibility of tetrahydrofuran

The flexibility of the five-membered ring in tetrahydrofuran was investigated using quantum mechanical methods involving density functional, Hartree-Fock, and many-body perturbation theory (MP2, MP4) calculations. We found that motion along the pseudorotational path of tetrahydrofuran is nearly free. The 0.1 kcal/mol energy barrier for pseudorotation, calculated at the highest MP4(SDQ)/6-311++G(2d,p)//MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) level of theory, agrees well with the experimental value of 0.16±0.03 kcal/mol. Similar results were obtained with the S-VWN, B3-LYP and B-LYP density functional calculations using the 6-31G(d) set of atomic orbitals. Also the density functional dipole moments and geometries were in good agreement with both the MP2 and experimental benchmarks. However, all density functional methods that utilized the default integration grid in the Gaussian 94 program were found to provide false stationary points of the C ₁ symmetry near the pseudorotational angle of 100°. These stationary points disappeared when a denser spherical-product grid was used. Overall, the hybrid B3-LYP functional was found to be the most promising quantum mechanical method for the modeling of biomolecules containing the furanose ring. Received: 17 June 1997 / Accepted: 20 November 1997     

Ab initio study of the OH + CH2O reaction: The effect of the OH··OCH2 complex on the H‐abstraction kinetics

Kinetics for the reaction of OH radical with CH₂O has been studied by single‐point calculations at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(3df, 2p) level based on the geometries optimized at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(3df, 2p) and CCSD/6‐311++G(d,p) levels. The rate constant for the reaction has been computed in the temperature range 200–3000 K by variational transition state theory including the significant effect of the multiple reflections above the OH··OCH₂ complex. The predicted results can be represented by the expressions k₁ = 2.45 × 10^‐21 T^2.98 exp (1750/T) cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 (200–400 K) and 3.22 × 10^‐18 T^2.11 exp(849/T) cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 (400–3000 K) for the H‐abstraction process and k₂ = 1.05 × 10^‐17 T^1.63 exp(?2156/T) cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 in the temperature range of 200–3000 K for the HO‐addition process producing the OCH₂OH radical. The predicted total rate constants (k₁ + k₂) can reproduce closely the recommended kinetic data for OH + CH₂O over the entire range of temperature studied. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 322–326, 2006     

Quantum study on the electrocyclic reactions of CH2CHCHCHX (XH,F, Cl)

The microscopic mechanisms of the electrocyclic reactions for cis‐1,3‐butadiene and its monofluoro‐, monochloroderivatives have been studied by density functional theory (DFT), using the B3LYP method and 6‐311++G** basis sets. We optimized the geometric configurations of reactants, transition states, and products; verified all the probable transition states through vibrational analysis; and calculated the relative single‐point energies at the QCISD(T)/6‐311++G**//B3LYP/6‐311++G**. The results show that the monofluoro‐, monochloroderivatives of cis‐1,3‐butadiene both have two conformers; the reactant favors the electrocyclic reaction when one outboard hydrogen atom of the CH₂ groups is substituted by the fluorine or chlorine atom. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

Direct ab initio dynamics calculations of the rate constants for the reaction of CHF2CF2OCH3 with Cl

A dual‐level direct dynamics method is employed to reveal the dynamical properties of the reaction of CHF₂CF₂OCH₃ (HFE‐254pc) with Cl atoms. The optimized geometries and frequencies of the stationary points and the minimum energy path (MEP) are calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) level by using GAUSSIAN 98 program package, and energetic information is further refined by the G3(MP2) method. Two H‐abstraction channels have been identified. For the reactant CHF₂CF₂OCH₃ and the two products, CHF₂CF₂OCH₂ and CF₂CF₂OCH₃, the standard enthalpies of formation are evaluated with the values of ?256.71 ± 0.88, ?207.79 ± 0.12, and ?233.43 ± 0.88 kcal/mol, respectively, via group‐balanced isodesmic reactions. The rate constants of the two reaction channels are evaluated by means of canonical variational transition‐state theory (CVT) including the small‐curvature tunneling (SCT) correction over a wide range of temperature from 200 to 2000 K. The calculated rate constants agree well with the experimental data, and the Arrhenius expressions for the title reaction are fitted and can be expressed as k₁ = 9.22 × 10^?19 T^2.06 exp(219/T), k₂ = 4.45 × 10^?14 T^0.90 exp(?2220/T), and k = 4.71 × 10^?22 T^3.20) exp(543/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Our results indicate that H‐abstraction from ? CH₃ group is the main reaction pathway in the lower temperature range, while H‐abstraction from ? CHF₂ group becomes more competitive in the higher temperature range. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 39: 221–230, 2007     

An ab initio study of the structure,dissociation energy,and heat of formation of Na2S

The equilibrium geometries and fundamental frequencies of Na₂S are calculated at HF, MP2(FC, FU), and MP3 with the 6–31G(d) basis set and at HF and MP2(FC, FU) with the 6–31G(d) basis set, respectively. The total energy at MP2(FU)/6–31G(d)-optimized geometry is computed at MP4 with 6–311G(d, p), 6–311 + G(d, p), and 6–311G(2df, p), at QCISD(T)/6–311G(d, p), and at MP2/6–311G(3df, 2p) levels, respectively. The dissociation energy, the atomization energy, and the heat of formation for Na₂S are evaluated using the G1 and G2 models. The calculated results indicated that Na₂S in its ground state was a bent structure (C_2v). Electron correlation corrections on the bending angle are very significant. The equilibrium geometrical parameters are R_e(Na-S) = 2.45 Å and ∠Na-S-Na = 111.13° at the MP2(FU)/6–31G(d) level. The theoretically estimated dissociation energy, total atomization energy, and heat of formation are 67.07, 117.55, and 0.35 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively, at 298.15 K. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An ab initio correlated study of the potential energy surface for the HOBr.H2O complex

The potential energy surface (PES) for the HOBr.H(2)O complex has been investigated using second- and fourth-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2, MP4) and coupled cluster theory with single and doubles excitations (CCSD), and a perturbative approximation of triple excitations (CCSD-T), correlated ab initio levels of theory employing basis sets of triple zeta quality with polarization and diffuse functions up to the 6-311++G(3dp,3df ) standard Pople's basis set. Six stationary points being three minima, two first-order transition state (TS) structures and one second-order TS were located on the PES. The global minimum syn and the anti equilibrium structure are virtually degenerated [DeltaE(ele-nuc) approximately 0.3 kcal mol(-1), CCSD-T/6-311++G(3df,3pd) value], with the third minima being approximately 4 kcal mol(-1) away. IRC analysis was performed to confirm the correct connectivity of the two first-order TS structures. The CCSD-T/6-311++G(3df,3pd)//MP2/6-311G(d,p) barrier for the syn<-->anti interconversion is 0.3 kcal mol(-1), indicating that a mixture of the syn and anti forms of the HOBr.H(2)O complex is likely to exist.     

Electron affinities of metals computed by density functional theory and ab initio methods

An extensive computational study of the meal electron affinity was performed using the ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) methods. HF, MP2, MP3, MP4, QCISD, and QCISD(T) was used as computational methods, while the hybrid, local, and nonlocal DFT methods with the LYP, P86, PW91, and VWN correlation functionals were used. Two basis sets, one small and applicable to almost all metals (LanL2DZ) and one large [6-311 + + G(3df, 3 pd)] used only for small metals, were employed. The computed results were compared with the experimental data and the capabilities of the DFT methods to perform this study were discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A quest for triplet silylenes XHSi3 at ab initio and DFT levels (X = H, F, Cl and Br)

Four ground state triplet silylenes are found among 30 possible silylenic XHSi₃ structures (X = H, F, Cl and Br), at seven ab initio and DFT levels including: B3LYP/6-311++G^∗∗, HF/6-311++G^∗∗, MP3/6-311G^∗, MP2/6-311+G^∗∗, MP4(SDTQ)/6-311++G^∗∗, QCISD(T)/6-311++G^∗∗ and CCSD(T)/6-311++G^∗∗. The latter six methods indicate that the triplet states of 3-flouro-1,2,3-trisilapropadienylidene, 1-chloro-1,2,3-trisilapropargylene and 3-chloro-1,2,3-trisilapropargylene are energy minima. These triplets appear more stable than their corresponding singlet states which cannot even exist for showing negative force constants. Also, triplet state of 1-flouro-1,2,3-trisilapropargylene is possibly accessible for being an energy minimum, since its corresponding singlet state is not a real isomer. Some discrepancies are observed between energetic and/or structural results of DFT vs. ab initio data.