Theoretical study of light-metal tetrahydroborates

Ab initio calculations of the structural, energetic, vibrational, and magnetic characteristics of the lowest-lying structures for isolated molecules and ions of light-metal tetrahydroborates (Li, Na, Be, Mg, and Al) have been performed by the perturbation theory (MP2), quadratic configuration interaction (QCISD(T)), coupled cluster (CCSD(T)), and density functional theory (B3LYP) methods using the 6-31G*, 6-31G**, 6-311+G**, and 6-311++G** basis sets. The trends in the behavior of the structural parameters, the energies of different decomposition pathways, barriers to internal rotation of BH₄ groups, normal mode frequencies, magnetic shielding constants, and spin density distribution (in radicals) have been analyzed in various related series of these compounds. The results obtained by ab initio methods and at the DFT level are compared. The economical approximation B3LYP/6-311++G**//B3LYP/6-311+G** adequately reproduces the results obtained at the higher level of theory CCSD(T)/6-311++G*s*//MP2/6-31G* even though it requires considerably shorter CPU times and smaller amounts of memory.     

Do B3LYP and CCSDT predict different hydrosilylation mechanisms? Influences of theoretical methods and basis sets on relative energies in ruthenium-silylene-catalyzed ethylene hydrosilylation

A series of density functional theory (DFT) and wave function theory (WFT) methods were used in conjunction with a series of basis sets to investigate the influence of the computational methodology on the relative energies of key intermediates and transition states in potential reaction pathways in ruthenium-silylene-catalyzed hydrosilylation reactions. A variety of DFT methods in a modest basis set and B3LYP calculations in a variety of basis sets calculated the key transition in the Glaser-Tilley (GT) pathway to be energetically favored. In contrast, with the smaller basis sets, the CCSD(T) method calculated the Chalk-Harrod (CH) pathway to be favored; however, CCSD(T) results extrapolated to larger basis sets favored the GT pathway.     

What are the spectroscopic properties of HFC‐32? Answers from DFT

Although coupled cluster theory coupled to large basis sets can reach impressive accuracies for thermochemical and spectroscopic properties, it is still limited to small/medium sized molecules. Density functional theory (DFT) represents the working option for systems composed of hundreds to thousands heavy atoms. In this context, investigations are required aimed at characterizing the performances of the different density functionals (DF). This work focuses on the study of DFT performances in the prediction of spectroscopic properties, with particular attention to the vibrational problem, by focusing on the CH₂F₂ molecule as a test case. An extensive and systematic investigation is performed on several DFT model chemistries by testing their predictions of molecular constants and vibrational frequencies and intensities against CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pCVQZ data. B3LYP, B3PW91, B97‐1, PBE0, TPSSh, M05, M05‐2X, and B2PLYP DFs are used in conjunction with a variety of basis sets. Anharmonic frequencies are derived from the VPT2 treatment of anharmonic‐ and hybrid CCSD(T)/DFT‐force fields. A software for VPT2 computations is also presented. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ab initio study of spectroscopic constants and anharmonic force field of 74GeCl2

The equilibrium structure, spectroscopy constants, and anharmonic force field of germanium dichloride have been calculated at MP2, B3LYP, and CCSD(T) levels of theory employing two basis sets, cc-pVDZ and cc-pVTZ, respectively. The computed geometries, rotational constants, and vibration-rotation interaction constants, and quartic centrifugal distortion constants are compared with the available experimental data. The harmonic frequencies, anharmonic constants, and cubic and quartic force constants are predicted. The calculated results show that the MP2 results are in excellent agreement with experiment and represent a substantial improvement over the results obtained from B3LYP. The CCSD(T) method is also an advisable choice to study anharmonic force field of molecules.     

Conventional strain energies of 1,2-dihydroazete, 2,3-dihydroazete, 1,2-dihydrophosphete, and 2,3-dihydrophosphete

The conventional strain energies of 1,2-dihydroazete, 2,3-dihydroazete, 1,2-dihydrophosphete, and 2,3-dihydrophosphete are determined within the isodesmic, homodesmotic, and hyperhomodesmotic models. Optimum equilibrium geometries, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and corresponding electronic energies and zero-point vibrational energies are computed for all pertinent molecular systems using SCF theory, second-order perturbation theory, and density functional theory and employing the correlation consistent basis sets cc-pVDZ, cc-pVTZ, and cc-pVQZ. Single-point fourth-order perturbation theory, CCSD, and CCSD(T) calculations employing the cc-pVTZ and the cc-pVQZ basis sets are computed using the MP2/cc-pVTZ and MP2/cc-pVQZ optimized geometries, respectfully, to ascertain the contribution of higher order correlation. Three DFT functionals, B3LYP, wB97XD, and M06-2X, are employed to determine whether they can yield results similar to those obtained at the CCSD(T) level.     

Basis set and method dependence in quantum theory of atoms in molecules calculations for covalent bonds

The influence of various small- and medium-size basis sets used in Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP calculations on results of quantum theory of atoms in molecules based (QTAIM-based) analysis of bond parameters is investigated for several single, double, and triple covalent bonds. It is shown that, in general, HF and DFT/B3LYP methods give very similar QTAIM results with respect to the basis set. The smallest 6-31G basis set and DZ-quality basis sets of Dunning type lead to poor results in comparison to those obtained by the most reliable aug-cc-pVTZ. On the contrary, 6-311++G(2df,2pd) and in a somewhat lesser extent 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis sets give satisfactory values of QTAIM parameters. It is also demonstrated that QTAIM calculations may be sensitive for the method and basis set in the case of multiple and more polarized bonds.     

Non‐empirical calculations of NMR indirect carbon–carbon coupling constants: 1. Three‐membered rings

The carbon–carbon indirect nuclear spin–spin coupling constants in cyclopropane, aziridine and oxirane were investigated by means of ab initio calculations at the RPA, SOPPA and DFT/B3LYP levels. We found that the carbon–carbon couplings are by far dominated by the Fermi contact term. Our best SOPPA and DFT results are in a very good agreement with each other and with the experimental values, whereas calculations at the RPA level of theory strongly overestimate the carbon–carbon couplings. Significant differences in the basis set dependence of the calculated carbon–carbon coupling constants obtained with either wavefunction method, RPA or SOPPA, or the density functional method, DFT/B3LYP, are observed. The SOPPA results depend much more strongly on the quality of the basis set than the results of DFT/B3LYP calculations. The medium‐sized core‐valence basis sets cc‐pCVTZ and even cc‐pCVDZ were found to perform fairly well at the SOPPA level for the one‐bond carbon–carbon couplings investigated here. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electron affinities of uracil: microsolvation effects and polarizable continuum model

We present adiabatic electron affinities (AEAs) and the vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of the uracil molecule interacting with one to five water molecules. Credibility of MP2 and DFT/B3LYP calculations is supported by comparison with available benchmark CCSD(T) data. AEAs and VDEs obtained by MP2 and DFT/B3LYP methods copy trends of benchmark CCSD(T) results for the free uracil and uracil-water complexes in the gas phase being by 0.20 - 0.28 eV higher than CCSD(T) values depending on the particular structure of the complex. AEAs and VDEs from MP2 are underestimated by 0.09-0.15 eV. For the free uracil and uracil-(H(2)O)(n) (n = 1,2,3,5) complexes, we also consider the polarizable continuum model (PCM) and discuss the importance of the microsolvation when combined with PCM. AEAs and VDEs of uracil and uracil-water complexes enhance rapidly with increasing relative dielectric constant (ε) of the solvent. Highest AEAs and VDEs of the U(H(2)O)(5) complexes from B3LYP with ε = 78.4 are 2.03 and 2.81 eV, respectively, utilizing the correction from CCSD(T). Specific structural features of the microsolvated uracil-(H(2)O)(n) complexes and their anions are preserved also upon considering PCM in calculations of AEAs and VDEs.     

Ab initio and density functional theory reinvestigation of gas-phase sulfuric acid monohydrate and ammonium hydrogen sulfate

We have calculated the thermochemical parameters for the reactions H(2)SO(4) + H(2)O <--> H(2)SO(4).H(2)O and H(2)SO(4) + NH(3) <--> H(2)SO(4).NH(3) using the B3LYP and PW91 functionals, MP2 perturbation theory and four different basis sets. Different methods and basis sets yield very different results with respect to, for example, the reaction free energies. A large part, but not all, of these differences are caused by basis set superposition error (BSSE), which is on the order of 1-3 kcal mol(-1) for most method/basis set combinations used in previous studies. Complete basis set extrapolation (CBS) calculations using the cc-pV(X+d)Z and aug-cc-pV(X+d)Z basis sets (with X = D, T, Q) at the B3LYP level indicate that if BSSE errors of less than 0.2 kcal mol(-1) are desired in uncorrected calculations, basis sets of at least aug-cc-pV(T+d)Z quality should be used. The use of additional augmented basis functions is also shown to be important, as the BSSE error is significant for the nonaugmented basis sets even at the quadruple-zeta level. The effect of anharmonic corrections to the zero-point energies and thermal contributions to the free energy are shown to be around 0.4 kcal mol(-1) for the H(2)SO(4).H(2)O cluster at 298 K. Single-point CCSD(T) calculations for the H(2)SO(4).H(2)O cluster also indicate that B3LYP and MP2 calculations reproduce the CCSD(T) energies well, whereas the PW91 results are significantly overbinding. However, basis-set limit extrapolations at the CCSD(T) level indicate that the B3LYP binding energies are too low by ca. 1-2 kcal/mol. This probably explains the difference of about 2 kcal mol(-1) for the free energy of the H(2)SO(4) + H(2)O <--> H(2)SO(4).H(2)O reaction between the counterpoise-corrected B3LYP calculations with large basis sets and the diffusion-based experimental values of S. M. Ball, D. R. Hanson, F. L Eisele and P. H. McMurry (J. Phys. Chem. A. 2000, 104, 1715). Topological analysis of the electronic charge density based on the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) shows that different method/basis set combinations lead to qualitatively different bonding patterns for the H(2)SO(4).NH(3) cluster. Using QTAIM analysis, we have also defined a proton transfer degree parameter which may be useful in further studies.     

Peculiar basis set dependence of the energetics of C2S2H2 isomers. In search of adequate and affordable basis set for routine calculations

Quantum mechanical calculations using the Hartree-Fock (HF), post-Hartree-Fock {MP2 and CCSD(T)}and gradient-corrected hybrid density functional variant, B3LYP methodology in conjugation with basis sets like 6-31G*, 6-311G** and cc-pVTZ, were employed to critically probe the right quality of basis set and the appropriate level of theory that can be applied in modeling the organo-sulfur compounds. The relative stability ordering of 1,2-dithiete and dithioglyoxal reveal the delicate basis set dependence especially on ‘S’ atom. Single point calculations at the B3LYP, MP2 and CCSD(T) levels using a series of basis set ranging from double ζ quality all the way up to the quintuple ζ quality were done to illustrate the effect of electron correlation and the basis set dependency for these compounds. Basis set requirements are much higher than affordable for medium sized molecules as very slow convergence is seen even when the calculations are carried out with basis set as high as cc-pV5Z at the B3LYP and MP2 level of theories.     

From CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ-J to CCSD(T) complete basis set limit isotropic nuclear magnetic shieldings via affordable DFT/CBS calculations

It is shown that a linear correlation exists between nuclear shielding constants for nine small inorganic and organic molecules (N(2), CO, CO(2), NH(3), CH(4), C(2)H(2), C(2)H(4), C(2)H(6) and C(6)H(6)) calculated with 47 methods (42 DFT methods, RHF, MP2, SOPPA, SOPPA(CCSD), CCSD(T)) and the aug-cc-pVTZ-J basis set and corresponding complete basis set results, estimated from calculations with the family of polarization-consistent pcS-n basis sets. This implies that the remaining basis set error of the aug-cc-pVTZ-J basis set is very similar in DFT and CCSD(T) calculations. As the aug-cc-pVTZ-J basis set is significantly smaller, CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ-J calculations allow in combination with affordable DFT/pcS-n complete basis set calculations the prediction of nuclear shieldings at the CCSD(T) level of nearly similar accuracy as those, obtained by fitting results obtained from computationally demanding pcS-n calculations at the CCSD(T) limit. A significant saving of computational efforts can thus be achieved by scaling inexpensive CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ-J calculations of nuclear isotropic shieldings with affordable DFT complete basis set limit corrections.     

Evaluation of DFT methods for computing the interaction energies of homomolecular and heteromolecular dimers of monosubstituted benzene

We present density functional theory (DFT) interaction energies for the sandwich and T‐shaped conformers of substituted benzene dimers. The DFT functionals studied include TPSS, HCTH407, B3LYP, and X3LYP. We also include Hartree–Fock (HF) and second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory calculations (MP2), as well as calculations using a new functional, P3LYP, which includes PBE and HF exchange and LYP correlation. Although DFT methods do not explicitly account for the dispersion interactions important in the benzene–dimer interactions, we find that our new method, P3LYP, as well as HCTH407 and TPSS, match MP2 and CCSD(T) calculations much better than the hybrid methods B3LYP and X3LYP methods do. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

NMR spectra, GIAO and charge density calculations of five-membered aromatic heterocycles

The B3LYP/6-31+G(d) molecular geometry optimized structures of 17 five-membered heterocycles were employed together with the gauge including atomic orbitals (GIAO) density functional theory (DFT) method at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p) levels of theory for the calculation of proton and carbon chemicals shifts and coupling constants. The method of geometry optimization for pyrrole (1), N-methylpyrrole (2) and thiophene (7) using the larger 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,p) and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ levels of theory gave little difference between calculated and experimental values of coupling constants. In general, the (1)H and 13C chemical shifts for all compounds are in good agreement with theoretical calculations using the smaller 6-31 basis set. The values of nJHH(n=3, 4, 5) and rmnJ(CH)(n=1, 2, 3, 4) were predicted well using the larger 6-31+G(d,p) and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets and at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,2p) levels of theory. The computed atomic charges [Mülliken; Natural Bond Orbital Analysis (NBO); Merz-Kollman (MK); CHELP and CHELPG] for the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) geometry optimized structures of 1-17 were used to explore correlations with the experimental proton and carbon chemical shifts.     

Structures and stability of medium-sized silicon clusters. III. Reexamination of motif transition in growth pattern from Si15 to Si20

It has been established from experiments that stable medium-sized ionic clusters Si15-Si20 are prolate in shape. Density-functional theories (DFTs) also predict that nearly all low-lying neutral clusters in this size range are prolate in shape. Moreover, most of them are built onto two generic structural motifs, either the tricapped-trigonal-prism (TTP) Si9 motif or the six/six Si6Si6 (sixfold-puckered hexagonal ring Si6 plus six-atom tetragonal bipyramid Si6) motif. However, it appears that the exact location of the TTP-to-six/six motif transition is dependent on the functional (e.g., PBE or BLYP) used in the DFT calculations. Here, we present total-energy calculations for two series of clusters (one series containing six/six motif and the other containing the TTP motif) in the size range of Si16-Si20. The calculations were based on all-electron DFT methods with a medium [6-311G (2d)] and a large (cc-pVTZ) basis sets, as well as coupled-cluster single and double substitutions (including triple excitations) [CCSD(T)] method with a modest (cc-pVDZ) basis set. In the DFT calculations, two popular hybrid density functionals, the B3LYP and PBE1PBE, were selected. It is found that the B3LYP total-energy calculations slightly favor the six/six motif, whereas the PBE1PBE calculations slightly favor the TTP motif. The CCSD(T) total-energy calculations, however, show that isomers based on the six/six motif are energetically slightly favorable in the size range of Si16-Si20. Hence, the TTP-to-six/six motif transition is more likely to occur at Si16.     

二阶多参考态微扰理论计算电子亲和势

采用二阶多参考微扰理论计算了F, Cl, OH, SH, CN, CH₂和NH₂的电子亲和势.另外,还考察了基函数和完全活性空间大小对电子亲和势精度的影响.通过和CASSCF, CASPT2, CCSD, CCSD(T), B3LYP, X3LYP, M06, HCTH, TPSS, B97D3, mPW2PLYP和B2PLYP的计算结果比较发现,针对目前所用的基函数,二阶多参考态微扰理论的总体计算效果是最好的.     

Benchmark calculations of 29Si–1H spin–spin coupling constants across double bond

Benchmark calculations of geminal and vicinal ²⁹Si–¹H spin–spin coupling constants across double bond in three reference alkenylsilanes have been carried out at both DFT and SOPPA levels in comparison with experiment. At the former, four density functionals, B3LYP, B3PW91, PBE0 and KT3, were tested in combination with five representative basis sets. At the latter, three main SOPPA‐based methods, SOPPA, SOPPA(CC2) and SOPPA(CCSD), were examined in combination with the same series of basis sets. On the whole, the wavefunction methods showed much better results as compared to DFT, with the most efficient combination of SOPPA/cc‐pVTZ‐su2 characterized by a mean absolute error of only 0.4 Hz calculated for a set of nine coupling constants in three compounds with a sample span of around 40 Hz. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical study of H-abstraction reactions from CH3Cl and CH3Br molecules by ClO and BrO radicals

The rate constants of the H-abstraction reactions from CH(3)Cl and CH(3)Br molecules by ClO and BrO radicals have been estimated over the temperature range of 300-2500 K using four different levels of theory. Calculations of optimized geometrical parameters and vibrational frequencies are performed using B3LYP and MP2 methods combined with the cc-pVTZ basis set. Single-point energy calculations have been carried out with the highly correlated ab initio coupled cluster method in the space of single, double, and triple (perturbatively) electron excitations CCSD(T) using the cc-pVTZ and cc-pVQZ basis sets. Canonical transition-state theory combined with an Eckart tunneling correction has been used to predict the rate constants as a function of temperature. In order to choose the appropriate levels of theory with chlorine- and bromine-containing species, the reference reaction Cl ((2)P(3/2)) + CH(3)Cl → HCl + CH(2)Cl (R(ref)) was first theoretically studied because its kinetic parameters are well-established from numerous experiments, evaluation data, and theoretical studies. The kinetic parameters of the reaction R(ref) have been determined accurately using the CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ//MP2/cc-pVTZ level of theory. This level of theory has been used for the rate constant estimation of the reactions ClO + CH(3)Cl (R(1)), ClO + CH(3)Br (R(2)), BrO + CH(3)Cl (R(3)), and BrO + CH(3)Br (R(4)). Six-parameter Arrhenius expressions have been obtained by fitting to the computed rate constants of these four reactions (including cis and trans pathways) over the temperature range of 300-2500 K.     

Comprehensive study on the solvation of mono- and divalent metal cations: Li+, Na+, K+, Be2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+

Hydration of mono- and divalent metal ions (Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Be(2+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+)) has been studied using the DFT (B3LYP), second-order M?ller-Plesset (MP2) and CCSD(T) perturbation theory as well as the G3 quantum chemical methods. Double-zeta and triple-zeta basis sets containing both (multiple) polarization and diffuse functions were applied. Total and sequential binding energies are evaluated for all metal-water clusters containing 1-6 water molecules. Total binding energies predicted at lower levels of theory are compared with those from the high level G3 calculations, whereas the sequential binding energies are compared with available experimental values. An increase in the quality of the basis set from double-zeta to triple-zeta has a significant effect on the sequential binding energies, irrespective of the geometries used. Within the same group (I or II), the sequential binding energy predictions at the MP2 and B3LYP vary appreciably. We noticed that, for each addition of a water molecule, the change of the M-O distance in metal-water clusters is higher at the B3LYP than at the MP2 level. The charge of the metal ion decreases monotonically as the number of water molecules increase in the complex.     

Theoretical study of light-metal tetrahydroaluminates

Ab initio calculations of the structural, energetic, vibrational, and magnetic characteristics of the lowest-lying structures for isolated molecules and ions of light-metal tetrahydroaluminates (Li, Na, Be, Mg, and Al) have been performed by the perturbation theory (MP2), quadratic configuration interaction (QCISD(T)), coupled cluster (CCSD(T)), and density functional theory (B3LYP) methods using the 6-31G*, 6-31G**, 6-311+G**, and 6-311++G** basis sets. The trends in the behavior of the molecular characteristics have been analyzed in various related series of these compounds. The results are compared with the data on analogous light-metal tetrahydroborates calculated at the same levels of theory. The differences in structure and stability between analogous hydroborate and alanate complexes are examined. The economical approximation B3LYP/6-311++G**//B3LYP/6-311+G** has been shown to adequately reproduce the results obtained at the higher level of theory CCSD(T)/6-311++G**//MP2/6-31G* even though it requires considerably shorter CPU times and smaller amounts of memory.