Ab initio calculation of some low-lying electronic excited states of methane

The energies of some low-lying electronic excited states of methane are calculated by using wave functions built up in terms of plane waves modulated by multicenter Gaussian factors. The wave functions of the various states are evaluated by a two steps iterative process. In the first step, each excited orbital is determined while keeping all other rigid; in the second, rearrangement effects are introduced. Final results are in good agreement with experimental data and allow to enhance an assignement hypothesis for the first electronic transitions.     

Band structure of nonclassical polymers

It is shown that fully conjugated alternant nonclassical polymers are comparatively stable systems as a result of the considerable delocalisation energy.The energy characteristics of the polymers are strongly determined by the electron spin distribution of the degenerate nonbonding molecular orbitals; the full spin configuration,S>0, is favoured. The spin densities depend on the electron correlation and alternate; this corresponds to a ferrimagnetic state of the polymer at 0°K.     

Configuration interaction methods for improving unrestricted Hartree-Fock spin densities

Limited Configuration Interaction wave functions based on Unrestricted Hartree-Fock natural orbitals are found to be easy to compute and to give much more satisfactory spin densities than are provided by techniques currently in use.     

A quantum-mechanical study of the interaction of methylglyoxal with guanine

Ab initio self-consistent field molecular orbital computations on the relative stabilities of the different possible intermediate adducts for the reactions between methylglyoxal and guanine, as well as the evaluation of the relative stabilities of the two different possible final cyclic products (IIIb and IIIc) point all to the conclusion that it is the addition product in which the methyl group is close to the amino nitrogen which is the most stable one.     

The Virtual Charge Model of a polarizable medium as a basis for Hückel calculations with the ω-technique

It is shown that the consideration of a strongly polarizable medium using the Virtual Charge Model (VCM) allows for the possibility of treating independently each electronic subsystem of a molecule by a Hückel-type -technique. The case of a finite polarizable environment can be treated by a first-order perturbation calculation.     

Multiplicity of the ground state of large alternant organic molecules with conjugated bonds

The multiplicity and the full spin of the ground state of large alternate molecules with conjugated bonds are considered. It is strictly shown that if the numbers of starred and unstarred atoms (say, carbon) differ from each other the full spin of the molecule is more than zero. Some possible planar and linear molecules having the full spin to be proportional to their sizes are presented. Particularly, they would be ferromagnets at infinite sizes.     

Calculations of the electronic structures of cage molecules using free-electron orbitals as a basis

A non-empirical molecular orbital method, particularly suitable for calculations on cage-like molecules, is described. The method uses as basis functions the set of free-electron functions which are the solutions of Schrödinger's equation for an electron confined between two concentric, spherical potential energy barriers. Application of the theory to the SCF calculation of the energies of the delocalized electrons in benzene and tetrasulphur tetranitride shows that the model is capable of interpreting the properties of such systems. However, it does highlight a difficulty in the calculation of excited state energies with one-centre models which appears to be largely unrecognized.Extension of the method to a consideration of all the valence electrons, using P₄ as an example, reveals problems the origin of which is an inadequate treatment of the core electrons. It is suggested that these problems may best be dealt with by use of a suitable pseudo potential.     

On the use of pseudopotentials in molecular calculations

A series of tests was performed of the Kahn-Goddard-Melius-Topiol pseudopotentials in view of their utilization with small contracted basis sets in molecular computations. The effects of inner-shell separability and of basis set contraction are underlined. The utilizability of Topiol's valence least-squares fitted Gaussian basis sets is studied.     

Numerical integration of overlap and ligand contributions to the electric field gradient

The total electric field gradient (EFG) tensor V _pq is calculated by numerical integration of threedimensional integrals. Each of them is solved a) by integrating over one dimension analytically and b) by integrating over the remaining two dimensions on the basis of a Gauss-type integration rule. The use of 100 abscissas in the twodimensional numerical integration scheme yields satisfactory accuracy which was checked by evaluating overlap integrals; an increase to 400 abscissas does not increase the result drastically. Calculating quadrupole splittings E _Q from numerically integrated electric field gradient tensors V _pq we observe that depending a) on the amount of covalency and b) on the amount of deviation from octahedral or tetrahedral symmetry, involved in a molecular system, overlap and ligand contributions to V _pq play an important role. Especially for the sandwich compound ferrocene, Fe(C₅H₅)₂, we find a significant difference between E _Q ^{num. int.} which follows from the numerical integration method, and E _Q ^conventional which is derived from effective charges.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Ab initio study of hydrazoic acid

SCF and CI calculations were carried out on the ground^1A state of HN₃. The equilibrium geometry and vibration frequencies were computed. The results point to a planar structure (groupC _s) but to a non-linear (170 °) N-N-N conformation. The calculated vibration frequencies are in fair agreement with experimental assignments.The dissociation path of the molecule to NH and N₂ products was investigated and compared to the isoelectronic reaction of diazomethane. The dissociation energy of hydrazoic acid is estimated to be about –8 kcal/mole, with a potential barrier to dissociation of about 30 kcal/mole.Boursier IRSIA     

A theoretical study of electrophilic reactions

The electronic structures of protonated formyl and acetylium cations and their deprotonation paths leading to HCO⁺, COH⁺ and CH₃CO⁺have been studied by means of ab initio calculations. The results support Olah's theory that dipositive species can be the de facto reagents in electrophilic reactions.     

Ab initio calculation of the band structure of some boron-nitrogen polymers

Ab initio calculations using a Gaussian orbital basis set were performed on the two boron-nitrogen polymer systems polyaminoborane and polyboronimide. For the polyaminoborane system an alternating B-N bond model appears to be more stable than a symmetric B-N bond model. An electron drift from the NH₂ group to the BH₂ moiety was calculated for both models although the nitrogen atom was found to possess a negative charge stemming from polarization of the N-H bonds. The energy band diagrams derived from both models show rather featureless bands indicative of weakly interactive systems although that of polyboronimide indicates that it is a more delocalized system than its saturated counterpart. The conduction and valence bands at the X-point are composed of orbitals and the lowest electronic transition is predicted to be —* in nature. The electron distribution of polyboronimide indicates a movement of -electrons from the boron to the nitrogen coupled with a smaller -electron drift from the nitrogen to the boron.     

Non-empirical calculations and basis set effects on the inversion geometry of the aniline molecule

The geometry of the amine group and the barrier to internal conversion in aniline have been studied by single-determinantab initio SCF calculations using several basis sets from minimal to double-zeta quality. The results obtained from different types and sizes of basis sets are discussed. Calculations performed with the two most flexible basis sets yield inversion barriers of 0.9–1.1 kcal/mole and angles of pyramidalization at the nitrogen atom of 38–39 ° which are in good agreement with the experimental results (1.3 kcal/ mole and 38 °). Orbital and overlap population analyses are performed and compared with the expected mesomeric and inductive effect. The calculated dipole moment 1.48–1.49 D also agrees with the experimental values (1.48–1.50 D).Dedicated to Professor O. E. Polansky, Mülheim/Ruhr, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

A non-empirical molecular orbital study on the relative stabilities of adenine and guanine tautomers

The relative stabilities of a series of adenine and guanine tautomers have been calculated using anab initio Hartree-Fock-Roothaan SCF MO method. The calculated relative stabilities agree in general with the results of earlier semiempirical studies. According to the present study, tautomeric forms with regular Kekulé structure for the six-membered purine ring are the most stable. The amine-imine tautomerization of purine bases is not likely to be responsible for spontaneous mutations in DNA.     

Acidity scale for strong Bronsted acids referred to their complexes with water and in the Gaseous phase

CNDO/2 calculations on AH...B complexes in the gaseous phase (AH = strong acids, B = water) gives the following order H₂O < HF < HCl < HSO₃CF₃ < H₂SO₄ < HSO₃F < HClO₄ < H₃O⁺ if we take as reference the Wiberg residual indexp(H... O). Other properties and in particular the charge transfer behave in the same fashion. Charge variations for each atom give an explanation for the Pauling rule for the oxygenated acids.

     

Theoretical assignments of the electronic spectrum of acetylene

Non empirical calculations of energies and properties of some excited states of acetylene are presented. A frozen core approximation is used and excitations to , and MO's are taken into account. Both valence and Rydberg states are considered. Assignments of the UV and electron impact spectra are proposed and some questions are raised.     

Studies of the energy spectrum of ω,ω′-substituted polymethine chains

It is shown that upon substitution of polymethines R-(CH)_N-R with complex many-atom substitution R-, in the energy gap of polymethine chains (N ) may arise states which are responsible for longest-wavelength transition. For certain substituents the energy of the electron transitions may be considerably lower than 1 eV, i.e. the transitions may be in the near infra-red.Second communication: Theoret. Chim. Acta. (Berl.) (1981) 60:185     

The molecular electrostatic potentials of the complementary base pairs of DNA

The perturbations in the molecular electrostatic potentials of the bases of the nucleic acids, brought about by hydrogen-bonding into complementary pairs are evaluated by a superposition procedure.