Ab initio and DFT benchmark study for nucleophilic substitution at carbon (SN2@C) and silicon (SN2@Si)

To obtain a set of consistent benchmark potential energy surfaces (PES) for the two archetypal nucleophilic substitution reactions of the chloride anion at carbon in chloromethane (S(N)2@C) and at silicon in chlorosilane (S(N)2@Si), we have explored these PESes using a hierarchical series of ab initio methods [HF, MP2, MP4SDQ, CCSD, CCSD(T)] in combination with a hierarchical series of six Gaussian-type basis sets, up to g polarization. Relative energies of stationary points are converged to within 0.01 to 0.56 kcal/mol as a function of the basis-set size. Our best estimate, at CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ, for the relative energies of the [Cl(-), CH(3)Cl] reactant complex, the [Cl-CH(3)-Cl](-) transition state and the stable [Cl-SiH(3)-Cl](-) transition complex is -10.42, +2.52, and -27.10 kcal/mol, respectively. Furthermore, we have investigated the performance for these reactions of four popular density functionals, namely, BP86, BLYP, B3LYP, and OLYP, in combination with a large doubly polarized Slater-type basis set of triple-zeta quality (TZ2P). Best overall agreement with our CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ benchmark is obtained with OLYP and B3LYP. However, OLYP performs better for the S(N)2@C overall and central barriers, which it underestimates by 2.65 and 4.05 kcal/mol, respectively. The other DFT approaches underestimate these barriers by some 4.8 (B3LYP) to 9.0 kcal/mol (BLYP).     

Oxidative addition of the ethane C-C bond to Pd. An ab initio benchmark and DFT validation study

We have computed a state-of-the-art benchmark potential energy surface (PES) for the archetypal oxidative addition of the ethane C-C bond to the palladium atom and have used this to evaluate the performance of 24 popular density functionals, covering LDA, GGA, meta-GGA, and hybrid density functionals, for describing this reaction. The ab initio benchmark is obtained by exploring the PES using a hierarchical series of ab initio methods [HF, MP2, CCSD, CCSD(T)] in combination with a hierarchical series of five Gaussian-type basis sets, up to g polarization. Relativistic effects are taken into account either through a relativistic effective core potential for palladium or through a full four-component all-electron approach. Our best estimate of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters is -10.8 (-11.3) kcal/mol for the formation of the reactant complex, 19.4 (17.1) kcal/mol for the activation energy relative to the separate reactants, and -4.5 (-6.8) kcal/mol for the reaction energy (zero-point vibrational energy-corrected values in parentheses). Our work highlights the importance of sufficient higher angular momentum polarization functions for correctly describing metal-d-electron correlation. Best overall agreement with our ab initio benchmark is obtained by functionals from all three categories, GGA, meta-GGA, and hybrid DFT, with mean absolute errors of 1.5 to 2.5 kcal/mol and errors in activation energies ranging from -0.2 to -3.2 kcal/mol. Interestingly, the well-known BLYP functional compares very reasonably with a slight underestimation of the overall barrier by -0.9 kcal/mol. For comparison, with B3LYP we arrive at an overestimation of the overall barrier by 5.8 kcal/mol. On the other hand, B3LYP performs excellently for the central barrier (i.e., relative to the reactant complex) which it underestimates by only -0.1 kcal/mol.     

Testing the parametric two-electron reduced-density-matrix method with improved functionals: application to the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to oxywater

Parametrization of the two-electron reduced density matrix (2-RDM) has recently enabled the direct calculation of electronic energies and 2-RDMs at the computational cost of configuration interaction with single and double excitations. While the original Kollmar energy functional yields energies slightly better than those from coupled cluster with single-double excitations, a general family of energy functionals has recently been developed whose energies approach those from coupled cluster with triple excitations [D. A. Mazziotti, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 253002 (2008)]. In this paper we test the parametric 2-RDM method with one of these improved functionals through its application to the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to oxywater. Previous work has predicted the barrier from oxywater to hydrogen peroxide with zero-point energy correction to be 3.3-to-3.9 kcal/mol from coupled cluster with perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] and -2.3 kcal/mol from complete active-space second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) in augmented polarized triple-zeta basis sets. Using a larger basis set than previously employed for this reaction-an augmented polarized quadruple-zeta basis set (aug-cc-pVQZ)-with extrapolation to the complete basis-set limit, we examined the barrier with two parametric 2-RDM methods and three coupled cluster methods. In the basis-set limit the M parametric 2-RDM method predicts an activation energy of 2.1 kcal/mol while the CCSD(T) barrier becomes 4.2 kcal/mol. The dissociation energy of hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals is also compared to the activation energy for oxywater formation. We report energies, optimal geometries, dipole moments, and natural occupation numbers. Computed 2-RDMs nearly satisfy necessary N-representability conditions.     

Assessment of the accuracy of density functionals for prediction of relative energies and geometries of low-lying isomers of water hexamers

Water hexamers provide a critical testing ground for validating potential energy surface predictions because they contain structural motifs not present in smaller clusters. We tested the ability of 11 density functionals (four of which are local and seven of which are nonlocal) to accurately predict the relative energies of a series of low-lying water hexamers, relative to the CCSD(T)/aug'-cc-pVTZ level of theory, where CCSD(T) denotes coupled cluster theory with an interative treatment of single and double excitations and a quasi-perturbative treatment of connected triple excitations. Five of the density functionals were tested with two different basis sets, making a total of 16 levels of density functional theory (DFT) tested. When single-point energy calculations are carried out on geometries obtained with second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), only three density functionals, M06-L, M05-2X, and M06-2X, are able to correctly predict the relative energy ordering of the hexamers. These three functionals predict that the range of energies spanned by the six isomers is 3.2-5.6 kcal/mol, whereas the other eight functionals predict ranges of 1.0-2.4 kcal/mol; the benchmark value for this range is 3.1 kcal/mol. When the hexamers are optimized at each level of theory, all methods are able to reproduce the MP2 geometries well for all isomers except the boat and bag isomers, and DFT optimization changes the energy ordering for seven of the 16 methods tested. The addition of zero-point energy changes the energy ordering for all of the density functionals studied except for M05-2X and M06-2X. The variation in relative energies predicted by the different methods highlights the necessity for exercising caution in the choice of density functionals used in future studies. Of the 11 density functionals tested, the most accurate results for energies were obtained with the PWB6K, MPWB1K, and M05-2X functionals.     

Structure of the boronic acid dimer and the relative stabilities of its conformers

Despite the widespread use of boronic acids in materials science and as pharmaceutical agents, many aspects of their structure and reactivity are not well understood. In this research the boronic acid dimer, [HB(OH)(2)](2), was studied by second-order M?ller-Plesset (MP2) perturbation theory and coupled cluster methodology with single and double excitations (CCSD). Pople split-valence 6-31+G*, 6-311G**, and 6-311++G** and Dunning-Woon correlation-consistent cc-pVDZ, aug-cc-pVDZ, cc-pVTZ, and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets were employed for the calculations. A doubly hydrogen-bonded conformer (1) of the dimer was consistently found to be lowest in energy; the structure of 1 was planar (C(2h)) at most computational levels employed but was significantly nonplanar (C(2)) at the MP2/6-311++G** and CCSD/6-311++G** levels, the result of an intrinsic problem with Pople-type sp-diffuse basis functions on heavy atoms. The dimerization energy, enthalpy, and free energy for the formation of (1) from the exo-endo conformer of the monomer were -10.8, -9.2, and +1.2 kcal/mol, respectively, at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. Several other hydrogen-bonded conformers of the dimer were local minima on the potential energy surface (PES) and ranged from 2 to 5 kcal/mol higher in energy than 1. Nine doubly OH-bridged conformers, in which the boron atoms were tetracoordinated, were also local minima on the PES, but they were all greater than 13 kcal/mol higher in energy than 1; doubly H-bridged structures proved to be transition states. MP2 and CCSD results were compared to those from the BLYP, B3LYP, OLYP, O3LYP, PBE1PBE, and TPSS functionals with the 6-311++G** and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets; the PBE1PBE functional performed best relative to the MP2 and CCSD results. Self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) calculations predict that boronic acid dimerization is less favorable in solution than in vacuo.     

Pi and sigma-phenylethynyl radicals and their isomers o-, m-, and p-ethynylphenyl: structures, energetics, and electron affinities

Molecular structures, energetics, vibrational frequencies, and electron affinities are predicted for the phenylethynyl radical and its isomers. Electron affinities are computed using density functional theory, -namely, the BHLYP, BLYP, B3LYP, BP86, BPW91, and B3PW91 functionals-, employing the double-zeta plus polarization DZP++ basis set; this level of theory is known to perform well for the computation of electron affinities. Furthermore, ab initio computations employing perturbation theory, coupled cluster with single and double excitations [CCSD], and the inclusion of perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] are performed to determine the relative energies of the isomers. These higher level computations are performed with the correlation consistent family of basis sets cc-pVXZ (X = D, T, Q, 5). Three electronic states are probed for the phenylethynyl radical. In C2v symmetry, the out-of-plane (2B1) radical is predicted to lie about 10 kcal/mol below the in-plane (2B2) radical by DFT methods, which becomes 9.4 kcal/mol with the consideration of the CCSD(T) method. The energy difference between the lowest pi and sigma electronic states of the phenylethynyl radical is also about 10 kcal/mol according to DFT; however, CCSD(T) with the cc-pVQZ basis set shows this energy separation to be just 1.8 kcal/mol. The theoretical electron affinities of the phenylethynyl radical are predicted to be 3.00 eV (B3LYP/DZP++) and 3.03 eV (CCSD(T)/DZP++//MP2/DZP++). The adiabatic electron affinities (EAad) of the three isomers of phenylethynyl, that is, the ortho-, meta-, and para-ethynylphenyl, are predicted to be 1.45, 1.40, and 1.43 eV, respectively. Hence, the phenylethynyl radical binds an electron far more effectively than the three other radicals studied. Thermochemical predictions, such as the bond dissociation energies of the aromatic and ethynyl C-H bonds and the proton affinities of the phenylethynyl and ethynylphenyl anions, are also reported.     

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.     

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.     

High-level ab initio computations of structures and interaction energies of naphthalene dimers: origin of attraction and its directionality

The intermolecular interaction energies of naphthalene dimers have been calculated by using an aromatic intermolecular interaction model (a model chemistry for the evaluation of intermolecular interactions between aromatic molecules). The CCSD(T) (coupled cluster calculations with single and double substitutions with noniterative triple excitations) interaction energy at the basis set limit has been estimated from the second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation interaction energy near saturation and the CCSD(T) correction term obtained using a medium-size basis set. The estimated interaction energies of the set of geometries explored in this work show that two structures emerge as being the lowest energy, and may effectively be considered as isoenergetic on the basis of the errors inherent in out extrapolation procedure. These structures are the slipped-parallel (Ci) structure (-5.73 kcal/mol) and the cross (D2d) structure (-5.28 kcal/mol). The T-shaped (C2v) and sandwich (D2h) dimers are substantially less stable (-4.34 and -3.78 kcal/mol, respectively). The dispersion interaction is found to be the major source of attraction in the naphthalene dimer. The electrostatic interaction is substantially smaller than the dispersion interaction. The large dispersion interaction is the cause of the large binding energies of the cross and slipped-parallel dimers.     

Improved correlation energy extrapolation schemes based on local pair natural orbital methods

It is well-known that the basis set limit is difficult to reach in correlated post Hartree-Fock ab initio calculations. One possible route forward is to employ basis set extrapolation schemes. In order to avoid prohibitively expensive calculations, the highest level calculation (typically based on the "gold standard" coupled cluster theory with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations, CCSD(T)) is only performed with the smallest basis set, and the remaining basis set incompleteness is estimated at a lower level of theory, typically second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2). In this work, we provide a comprehensive investigation of alternative schemes where the MP2 extrapolation is replaced by the coupled-electron pair approximation, version 1 (CEPA/1) or the local pair natural orbital version of this method (LPNO-CEPA/1). It is shown that the MP2 method achieves apparent accuracy only due to error cancellation. Systematically more accurate results at small additional computational cost are obtained if the MP2 step is replaced by LPNO-CEPA/1. The errors of LPNO-CEPA/1 relative to canonical CEPA/1 are negligible. Owing to the highly systematic nature of the deviations between canonical and LPNO methods, basis set extrapolation reduces the LPNO errors in the total energies by 1 order of magnitude (~0.2 kcal/mol) and errors in energy differences to essentially zero. Using the CCSD(T)/LPNO-CEPA/1-based extrapolation scheme, new reference values are proposed for the recently published S66 set of interaction energies. The deviations between the new values and the original interactions energies are mostly very small but reach values up to 0.3 kcal/mol.     

Improvement of the coupled-cluster singles and doubles method via scaling same- and opposite-spin components of the double excitation correlation energy

There has been much interest in cost-free improvements to second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) via scaling the same- and opposite-spin components of the correlation energy (spin-component scaled MP2). By scaling the same- and opposite-spin components of the double excitation correlation energy from the coupled-cluster of single and double excitations (CCSD) method, similar improvements can be achieved. Optimized for a set of 48 reaction energies, scaling factors were determined to be 1.13 and 1.27 for the same- and opposite-spin components, respectively. Preliminary results suggest that the spin-component scaled CCSD (SCS-CCSD) method will outperform all MP2 type methods considered for describing intermolecular interactions. Potential energy curves computed with the SCS-CCSD method for the sandwich benzene dimer and methane dimer reproduce the benchmark CCSD(T) potential curves with errors of only a few hundredths of 1 kcal mol(-1) for the minima. The performance of the SCS-CCSD method suggests that it is a reliable, lower cost alternative to the CCSD(T) method.     

Structure and stability of the organo-noble gas molecules XNgCCX and XNgCCNgX (Ng = Kr, Ar; X = F, Cl)

Density functional theory (B3LYP) and ab initio theory [second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) and coupled-cluster theory including single, double, and quasiperturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T))] have been used in combination with the standard and augmented correlation consistent basis sets (cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ, where n = D, T, and Q) to investigate potential new noble gas compounds. Two classes of molecules were studied: XNgCCNgX and XNgCCX, where Ng = Kr and Ar and X = F and Cl. These molecules were characterized by finding the ground-state structures and calculating the relative energies, charge distributions, and vibrational frequencies. In addition, transition-state structures were also determined and decomposition pathways were identified through intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations.     

Oxidative addition of the fluoromethane C-F bond to Pd. An ab initio benchmark and DFT validation study

We have computed a state-of-the-art benchmark potential energy surface (PES) for two reaction pathways (oxidative insertion, OxIn, and S(N)2) for oxidative addition of the fluoromethane C-F bond to the palladium atom and have used this to evaluate the performance of 26 popular density functionals, covering LDA, GGA, meta-GGA, and hybrid density functionals, for describing these reactions. The ab initio benchmark is obtained by exploring the PES using a hierarchical series of ab initio methods (HF, MP2, CCSD, CCSD(T)) in combination with a hierarchical series of seven Gaussian-type basis sets, up to g polarization. Relativistic effects are taken into account through a full four-component all-electron approach. Our best estimate of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters is -5.3 (-6.1) kcal/mol for the formation of the reactant complex, 27.8 (25.4) kcal/mol for the activation energy for oxidative insertion (OxIn) relative to the separate reactants, 37.5 (31.8) kcal/mol for the activation energy for the alternative S(N)2 pathway, and -6.4 (-7.8) kcal/mol for the reaction energy (zero-point vibrational energy-corrected values in parentheses). Our work highlights the importance of sufficient higher angular momentum polarization functions for correctly describing metal-d-electron correlation. Best overall agreement with our ab initio benchmark is obtained by functionals from all three categories, GGA, meta-GGA, and hybrid DFT, with mean absolute errors of 1.4-2.7 kcal/mol and errors in activation energies ranging from 0.3 to 2.8 kcal/mol. The B3LYP functional compares very well with a slight underestimation of the overall barrier for OxIn by -0.9 kcal/mol. For comparison, the well-known BLYP functional underestimates the overall barrier by -10.1 kcal/mol. The relative performance of these two functionals is inverted with respect to previous findings for the insertion of Pd into the C-H and C-C bonds. However, all major functionals yield correct trends and qualitative features of the PES, in particular, a clear preference for the OxIn over the alternative S(N)2 pathway.     

Substituent effects on singlet-triplet gaps and mechanisms of 1,2-rearrangements of 1,3-oxazol-2-ylidenes to 1,3-oxazoles

Electronic structures, partial atomic charges, singlet-triplet gaps (Delta E ST), substituent effects, and mechanisms of 1,2-rearrangements of 1,3-oxazol-2-ylidene ( 5) and 4,5-dimethyl- ( 6), 4,5-difluoro- ( 7), 4,5-dichloro- ( 8), 4,5-dibromo- ( 9), and 3-methyl-1,3-oxazol-2-ylidene ( 10) to the corresponding 1,3-oxazoles have been studied using complete-basis-set methods (CBS-QB3, CBS-Q, CBS-4M), second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation method (MP2), hybrid density functionals (B3LYP, B3PW91), coupled-cluster theory with single and double excitations (CCSD) and CCSD plus perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)], and the quadratic configuration interaction method including single and double excitations (QCISD) and QCISD plus perturbative triple excitations [QCISD(T)]. The 6-311G(d,p), 6-31+G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), and correlation-consistent polarized valence double-xi (cc-pVDZ) basis sets were employed. The carbenes have singlet ground states, and the CBS-QB3 and CBS-Q methods predict Delta E ST values for 5- 8 and 10 of 79.9, 79.8, 74.7, 77.0, and 82.0 kcal/mol, respectively. CCSD(T), QCISD(T), B3LYP, and B3PW91 predict smaller Delta E ST values than CBS-QB3 and CBS-Q, with the hybrid density functionals predicting the smallest values. The concerted unimolecular exothermic out-of-plane 1,2-rearrangements of singlet 1,3-oxazol-2-ylidenes to their respective 1,3-oxazoles proceed via cyclic three-center transition states. The CBS-predicted barriers to the 1,2-rearrangements of singlet carbenes 5- 9 to their respective 1,3-oxazoles are 41.4, 40.4, 37.8, 40.4, and 40.5 kcal/mol, respectively. During the 1,2-rearrangements of singlet 1,3-oxazol-2-ylidenes 5- 9, there is a decrease in electron density at oxygen, N3 (the migration origin), and C5 and an increase in electron density at C2 (the migration terminus), C4, and the partially positive migrating hydrogen.     

Accurate energetics of small molecules containing third-row atoms Ga-Kr: a comparison of advanced ab initio and density functional theory

Advanced ab initio [coupled cluster theory through quasiperturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T))] and density functional (B3LYP) computational chemistry approaches were used in combination with the standard and augmented correlation consistent polarized valence basis sets [cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ, where n=D(2), T(3), Q(4), and 5] to investigate the energetic and structural properties of small molecules containing third-row (Ga-Kr) atoms. These molecules were taken from the Gaussian-2 (G2) extended test set for third-row atoms. Several different schemes were used to extrapolate the calculated energies to the complete basis set (CBS) limit for CCSD(T) and the Kohn-Sham (KS) limit for B3LYP. Zero point energy and spin orbital corrections were included in the results. Overall, CCSD(T) atomization energies, ionization energies, proton affinities, and electron affinities are in good agreement with experiment, within 1.1 kcal/mol when the CBS limit has been determined using a series of two basis sets of at least triple zeta quality. For B3LYP, the overall mean absolute deviation from experiment for the three properties and the series of molecules is more significant at the KS limit, within 2.3 and 2.6 kcal/mol for the cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ basis set series, respectively.     

Global investigation on the potential energy surface of CH3CN: application of the scaled hypersphere search method

An extensive quantum chemical study of the potential energy surface (PES) for all possible isomerization and dissociation reactions of CH3CN is reported at the DFT (B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)) and CCSD(T)/ cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) levels of theory. The pathways around the equilibrium structures can be discovered by the scaled hypersphere search (SHS) method, which enables us to make a global analysis of the potential energy surface for a given chemical composition in combination with a downhill-walk algorithm. Seventeen equilibrium structures and 59 interconversion transition states have been found on the singlet PES. The four lowest lying isomers with thermodynamic stability are also kinetically stable with the lowest conversion barriers of 49.69-101.53 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level, whereas three-membered-ring isomers c-CH2NCH, c-CH2CNH, and c-CHNHCH can be considered as metastable intermediates which can further convert into the low-lying chain-like isomers and higher lying acyclic isomers with the lowest conversion energies of 21.70-59.99 kcal/mol. Thirteen available dissociation channels depending on the different initial isomers have been identified. A prediction can be made for the possible mechanism explaining the migration of a hydrogen atom in competition with the CC bond dissociation. Several new energetically accessible pathways are found to be responsible for the migration of the hydrogen atom. The present results demonstrate that the SHS method is an efficient and powerful technique for global mapping of reaction pathways on PESs.     

Reliable predictions of the thermochemistry of boron-nitrogen hydrogen storage compounds: BxNxHy, x = 2, 3

Thermochemical data calculated using ab initio molecular orbital theory are reported for 16 BxNxHy compounds with x = 2, 3 and y > or = 2x. Accurate gas-phase heats of formation were obtained using coupled cluster with single and double excitations and perturbative triples (CCSD(T)) valence electron calculations extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limit with additional corrections including core/valence, scalar relativistic, and spin-orbit corrections to predict the atomization energies and scaled harmonic frequencies to correct for zero point and thermal energies and estimate entropies. Computationally cheaper calculations were also performed using the G3MP2 and G3B3 variants of the Gaussian 03 method, as well as density functional theory (DFT) using the B3LYP functional. The G3MP2 heats of formation are too positive by up to approximately 6 kcal/mol as compared with CCSD(T)/CBS values. The more expensive G3B3 method predicts heats of formation that are too negative as compared with the CCSD(T)/CBS values by up to 3-4 kcal/mol. DFT using the B3LYP functional and 6-311+G** basis set predict isodesmic reaction energies to within a few kcal/mol compared with the CCSD(T)/CBS method so isodesmic reactions involving BN compounds and the analogous hydrocarbons can be used to estimate heats of formation. Heats of formation of c-B3N3H12 and c-B3N3H6 are -95.5 and -115.5 kcal/mol at 298 K, respectively, using our best calculated CCSD(T)/CBS approach. The experimental value for c-B3N3H6 appears to be approximately 7 kcal/mol too negative. Enthalpies, entropies, and free energies are calculated for many dehydrocoupling and dehydrogenation reactions that convert BNH6 to alicyclic and cyclic oligomers and H2(g). Generally, the reactions are highly exothermic and exergonic as well because of the release of 1 or more equivalents of H2(g). For c-B3N3H12 and c-B3N3H6, available experimental data for sublimation and vaporization lead to estimates of their condensed phase 298 K heats of formation: DeltaHf degrees [c-B3N3H12(s)] = -124 kcal/mol and DeltaHf degrees [c-B3N3H6(l)] = -123 kcal/mol. The reaction thermochemistries for the dehydrocoupling of BNH6(s) to c-B3N3H12(s) and the dehydrogenation of c-B3N3H12(s) to c-B3N3H6(l) are much less exothermic compared with the gas-phase reactions due to intermolecular forces which decrease in the order BNH6 > cyclo-B3N3H12 > cyclo-B3N3H6. The condensed phase reaction free energies are less negative compared with the gas-phase reactions but are still too favorable for BNH6 to be regenerated from either c-B3N3H12 or c-B3N3H6 by just an overpressure of H2.     

Protonated carbonyl sulfide: prospects for the spectroscopic observation of the elusive HSCO+ isomer

Spurred by the apparent conflict between ab initio predictions and infrared spectroscopic evidence regarding the relative stability of isomers of protonated carbonyl sulfide, key stationary points on the isomerization surface of HOCS(+) have been examined via systematic extrapolations of ab initio energies. Electron correlation has been accounted for using second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory and coupled cluster theory through triple excitations [CCSD, CCSD(T), and CCSDT] in conjunction with the correlation consistent hierarchy of basis sets, cc-pVXZ (X=D,T,Q,5,6). HSCO(+) is predicted to lie lower in energy than HOCS(+) by 4.86 kcal mol(-1), computed using the focal point extrapolation scheme of Allen and co-workers [J. Chem. Phys. 99, 4638 (1993)] with corrections for anharmonic zero-point vibrational energy, core correlation, non-Born-Oppenheimer, and scalar relativistic effects. A transition state has been located, constituting the barrier to isomerization of HSCO(+) to HOCS(+), lying 68.9 kcal mol(-1) higher in energy than HSCO(+). This is well above predicted exothermicity [DeltaH(r) (o)(0 K)=48.1 kcal mol(-1), cc-pVQZ CCSD(T)] for the reaction considered in the experiments (HSCO(+)+H(2)-->OCS+H(3) (+)). Though proton tunneling will lead to a lower effective barrier, this prediction is consistent with the lack of HSCO(+) in electrical discharges in H(2)OCS, since the relative populations of HOCS(+) and HSCO(+) will depend on the experimental details of the protonation route rather than the relative thermodynamic stability of the isomers. Anharmonic vibrational frequencies and vibrationally corrected rotational constants from cc-pVTZ CCSD(T) cubic and quartic force constants are provided, to aid in the spectroscopic observation of the energetically favorable but apparently elusive HSCO(+) isomer.     

Probing the effects of heterogeneity on delocalized pi...pi interaction energies

Dimers composed of benzene (Bz), 1,3,5-triazine (Tz), cyanogen (Cy) and diacetylene (Di) are used to examine the effects of heterogeneity at the molecular level and at the cluster level on pi...pi stacking energies. The MP2 complete basis set (CBS) limits for the interaction energies (E(int)) of these model systems were determined with extrapolation techniques designed for correlation consistent basis sets. CCSD(T) calculations were used to correct for higher-order correlation effects (deltaE(CCSD)(T)(MP2)) which were as large as +2.81 kcal mol(-1). The introduction of nitrogen atoms into the parallel-slipped dimers of the aforementioned molecules causes significant changes to E(int). The CCSD(T)/CBS E(int) for Di-Cy is -2.47 kcal mol(-1) which is substantially larger than either Cy-Cy (-1.69 kcal mol(-1)) or Di-Di (-1.42 kcal mol(-1)). Similarly, the heteroaromatic Bz-Tz dimer has an E(int) of -3.75 kcal mol(-1) which is much larger than either Tz-Tz (-3.03 kcal mol(-1)) or Bz-Bz (-2.78 kcal mol(-1)). Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory calculations reveal a correlation between the electrostatic component of E(int) and the large increase in the interaction energy for the mixed dimers. However, all components (exchange, induction, dispersion) must be considered to rationalize the observed trend. Another significant conclusion of this work is that basis-set superposition error has a negligible impact on the popular deltaE(CCSD)(T)(MP2) correction, which indicates that counterpoise corrections are not necessary when computing higher-order correlation effects on E(int). Spin-component-scaled MP2 (SCS-MP2 and SCSN-MP2) calculations with a correlation-consistent triple-zeta basis set reproduce the trends in the interaction energies despite overestimating the CCSD(T)/CBS E(int) of Bz-Tz by 20-30%.