A simple extension of the external magnasco-perico localization procedure to the virtual MO-Space

The external localization procedure of Magnasco and Perico is extended to the unoccupied molecular orbitals of the Fock-operator. The formal correspondence between bonding orbitals and localized antibonding MOs is demonstrated. Localized occupied and virtual one-electron functions are calculated within a semiempirical INDO-Hamiltonian and are analyzed; the externally localized occupied MOs are compared with energy localized orbitals computed by the Edmiston and Ruedenberg procedure. Various applications of the fully localized (occupied and virtual) MO set are discussed.     

Numerical MC SCF and CI calculations of the ground-state potential energy curve of N2

The numerical procedure of McCullough is used in calculations of Hartree-Fock and MC SCF wavefunctions for ground state of N₂. The latter are derived using the complete set of 18 spin and symmetry adapted configurations in the space of MOs that arise from 2p atomic orbitals. An increase in dissociation energy of 0.17 eV is observed when compared to MC SCF calculations in a large basis of Slater-type functions and the same set of configurations. Integrals involving the numerical MC SCF MOs are used in CI calculations in which substitutions involving the 1s and 2s electrons are included. The increase in dissociation energy due to numerical versus basis set valence CI is 0.08 eV. Spectroscopic constants and molecular quadrupole moments are reported.     

Localization of molecular orbitals on fragments

A non‐iterative algorithm for the localization of molecular orbitals (MOs) from complete active space self consistent field (CASSCF) and for single‐determinantal wave functions on predefined moieties is given. The localized fragment orbitals can be used to analyze chemical reactions between fragments and also the binding of fragments in the product molecule with a fragments‐in‐molecules approach by using a valence bond expansion of the CASSCF wave function. The algorithm is an example of the orthogonal Procrustes problem, which is a matrix optimization problem using the singular value decomposition. It is based on the similarity of the set of MOs for the moieties to the localized MOs of the molecule; the similarity is expressed by overlap matrices between the original fragment MOs and the localized MOs. For CASSCF wave functions, localization is done independently in the space of occupied orbitals and active orbitals, whereas, the space of virtual orbitals is mostly uninteresting. Localization of Hartree–Fock or Kohn–Sham density functional theory orbitals is not straightforward; rather, it needs careful consideration, because in this case some virtual orbitals are needed but the space of virtual orbitals depends on the basis sets used and causes considerable problems due to the diffuse character of most virtual orbitals. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Pseudodiagonalization-based wavefunction optimization with contracted planewave basis functions

Electronic structure calculations representing the molecular orbitals (MOs) with contracted planewave basis functions (CPWBFs) have been reported recently. CPWBFs are Fourier-series representations of atom-centered basis functions. The mathematical features of CPWBFs permit the construction of matrix–vector products, FC _o , involving the application of the Fock matrix, F , to the set of occupied MOs, C _o , without the explicit evaluation of F . This approach offers a theoretical speed-up of M/n over F -based methods, where M and n are the number of basis functions and occupied MOs, respectively. The present study reports methodological advances that permit FC _o -based optimization of wavefunction formed from CPWBFs. In particular, a technique is reported for optimizing wavefunctions by combining pseudodiagonalization techniques based on an exact representation of FC _o , approximate information regarding the virtual orbital energies, and direct inversion of the iterative subspace optimization schemes to guide the wavefunction to a converged solution. This method is found to speed-up wavefunction optimizations by factors of up to ~6 − 8 over F -based optimization methods while providing identical results. Further, the computational cost of this technique is relatively insensitive to basis set size, thus providing further benefits in calculations using large CPWBF basis sets. The results of density functional theory calculations show that this method permits the use of hybrid exchange-correlation (XC) functionals with a small increase in effort over analogous calculations using generalized gradient approximation XC functionals. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Calculations of the optical spectra of hydrocarbon radical cations based on Koopmans' theorem

The first few bands in the optical spectra of radical cations can often be interpreted in terms of A-type transitions that involve electron promotions from doubly occupied to the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) and/or B-type transition which involve electron promotion from the SOMO to virtual molecular orbitals. We had previously demonstrated that, by making use of Koopmans' theorem, the energies of A-type transitions can be related to orbital energy differences between lower occupied MOs and the highest occupied MO (HOMO) in the neutral molecule, calculated at the geometry of the radical cation. We now propose that the energies of B-type transitions can be related similarly to energy differences between the lowest unoccupied MO (LUMO) and higher virtual MOs in the dication, also calculated at the geometry of the radical cation, by way of an extension of Koopmans' theorem to virtual MOs similar to that used sometimes to model resonances in electron scattering experiments. The optical spectra of the radical cations of several polyenes and aromatic compounds, the matrix spectra of which are known (or presented here for the first time), and for which CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations are available, are discussed in terms of these Koopmans-based models. Then the spectra of five poly(bicycloalkyl)-protected systems and that of hexabenzocoronene, compounds not amenable to higher level calculations, are examined and it is found that the Koopmans-type calculations allow a satisfactory interpretation of most of the features in these spectra. These simple calculations therefore provide a computationally inexpensive yet effective way to assign optical transitions in radical ions. Limitations of the model are discussed.     

On the choice of active space orbitals in MCSCF calculations

We describe a procedure which may be used to aid selection of the active space in multiconfigurational self-consistent field (MCSCF) calculations for general chemical systems. Starting from a restricted Hartree-Fock calculation, we define a hierarchy of interacting virtual orbitals for every occupied orbital. The most strongly interacting orbitals are then taken to constitute the active space in a configuration interaction (CI) calculation. The natural orbital occupation numbers obtained from the CI calculation are then used to choose the active space to be used in a subsequent MCSCF calculation. We illustrate our method on a number of systems (Li₂, B₂, C₂, carbonyl oxide and the transition state for oxidation of H₂S by dioxirane). In all these cases, ‘intuitive’ active spaces are inadequate, as are active spaces derived from the natural orbitals of unrestricted Hartree-Fock calculations.     

Local explicitly correlated second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory with pair natural orbitals

We explore using a pair natural orbital analysis of approximate first-order pair functions as means to truncate the space of both virtual and complementary auxiliary orbitals in the context of explicitly correlated F12 methods using localised occupied orbitals. We demonstrate that this offers an attractive procedure and that only 10-40 virtual orbitals per significant pair are required to obtain second-order valence correlation energies to within 1-2% of the basis set limit. Moreover, for this level of virtual truncation, only 10-40 complementary auxiliary orbitals per pair are required for an accurate resolution of the identity in the computation of the three- and four-electron integrals that arise in explicitly correlated methods.     

Usefulness of modified virtual orbitals in multireference CI procedure illustrated by calculations on lithium clusters

The maximization of the exchange interaction between the canonical Hartree–Fock virtual and occupied orbitals leads to a transformed set of virtual orbitals which are well suited as one-electron functions for CI calculations. The procedure, generally known for a long time is seldom applied, despite its simplicity and very low computational demand. However, it is found to be particularly useful in the case of multireference CI, since an improved energy is obtained with a considerable shortening of the CI expansion. Moreover, in the final CI wave function, several configurations appear with considerable weight, thus allowing an easy choice of additional configurations to be inserted in the definition of a new zero-order wave function. The efficiency of the computational procedure is discussed for the case of a Li₆ cluster of D_3h symmetry and for the NaCO and PdCO complexes. Results are reported for the relative stability of four different geometrical arrangements of the Li₆ cluster.     

Symmetry simplifications of space types in configuration interaction induced by orbital degeneracy

Symmetry simplifications are introduced in configuration interaction (CI ) by reducing the number of symmetry-allowed space types if there is degeneracy in some of the molecular orbitals by constructing the unique space types. A new symmetry group which we call the configuration symmetry group is defined and is shown to be expressible as a generalized wreath product group. Generating functions are derived for enumerating the equivalence classes of space types. A double coset method is expounded which constructs the representatives of all equivalence classes of space types using the cycle index of generalized wreath product and the double cosets of label subgroup with generalized wreath product in the symmetric group S_n, if n is twice the number of occupied and virtual orbitals. Method is illustrated with CI using the localized orbitals of polyenes, CI in benzene, and atomic CI for several reference states.     

Direct selected multireference configuration interaction calculations for large systems using localized orbitals

A selected multireference configuration interaction (CI) method and the corresponding code are presented. It is based on a procedure of localization that permits to obtain well localized occupied and virtual orbitals. Due to the local character of the electron correlation, using local orbitals allows one to neglect long range interactions. In a first step, three topological matrices are constructed, which determine whether two orbitals must be considered as interacting or not. Two of them concern the truncation of the determinant basis, one for occupied/virtual, the second one for dispersive interactions. The third one concerns the truncation of the list of two electron integrals. This approach permits a fine analysis of each kind of approximation and induces a huge reduction of the CI size and of the computational time. The procedure is tested on linear polyene aldehyde chains, dissociation potential energy curve, and reaction energy of a pesticide-Ca(2+) complex and finally on transition energies of a large iron system presenting a light-induced excited spin-state trapping effect.     

Integral transformation with low-order scaling for large local second-order Møller–Plesset calculations

An algorithm is presented for the four-index transformation of electron repulsion integrals to a localized molecular orbital (MO) basis. Unlike in most programs, the first two indices are transformed in a single step. This and the localization of the orbitals allows the efficient neglect of small contributions at several points in the algorithm, leading to significant time savings. Thresholds are applied to the following quantities: distant orbital pairs, the virtual space before and after the orthogonalizing projection to the occupied space, and small contributions in the transformation. A series of calculations on medium-sized molecules has been used to determine appropriate thresholds that keep the truncation errors small (below 0.01% of the correlation energy in most cases). Benchmarks for local second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2; i.e., MP2 with a localized MO basis in the occupied subspace) are presented for several large molecules with no symmetry, up to 975 contracted basis functions, and 60 atoms. These are among the largest MP2 calculations performed on a single processor. The computational time (with constant basis set) scales with a somewhat lower than cubic power of the molecular size, and the memory demand is moderate even for large molecules, making calculations that require a supercomputer for the traditional MP2 feasible on workstations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 19: 1241–1254, 1998     

Adding the linked contributions of Triples and Quadruples to a size-consistent Singles and Doubles CI

Summary A convenient procedure has been proposed recently to insure the size-consistence of Singles and Doubles CI; the method goes through a self-consistent dressing of the energies of the excited determinants which incorporates the unlinked effects of the Triples and Quadruples. Two strategies are proposed here to add thelinked contributions of the Triples and Quadruples, either by an perturbative MP-type calculation of these effects, or by a redefinition of the dressing of the SD-CI matrix. Test calculations on Be₂, FH, NH₃ and F₂ molecules show that both methods efficiently approach the Full CI results (error 1 kcal mol^–1). The second one satisfactorily treats the single-bonds breaking. It is finally shown that the effect of the T-Q linked effects may be efficiently approximated by truncating the MO basis set to the most occupied virtual quasi-natural MOs.On leave from Departament de Quimica Fisica. Facultat de Quimica. Universitat de Valencia. Dr. Moliner 50, E-46100, Burjasot (Valencia), Spain     

Valence-only model potential calculations on copper hydride molecule

Different sets of one-electron functions obtained according to the strong-orthogonal geminal theory (GEM) [1], the Generalized Molecular Orbital (GMO) method [2] and the exchange maximization between virtual and occupied orbitals (EVO) [3], are tested as basis for CI calculations. The efficiency of the three procedures is discussed investigating the electronic structure of the CuH molecule using an effective-core potential. The values computed for the bond length, the dissociation energy and the vibrational frequency of the ground electronic state are compared with the experimental ones. The charge distribution is examined to estimate the contribution of the d electrons to the Cu-H bond. Comparisons are made with the results obtained by other theoretical works in which the copper atom is treated as a one valence electron atom.     

Mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer in the photoexcited Zn-substituted cytochrome c: theoretical and experimental perspective

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) in zinc-substituted cytochrome c (Zn-cyt c) has been utilized in many studies on the long-range ET in protein. Attempting to understand its ET mechanism in terms of electronic structure of the molecule, we have calculated an all-electron wave function for the ground-state of Zn-cyt c on the basis of density functional theory (DFT). The four molecular orbitals (MOs) responsible for excitation by UV-vis light (Gouterman's 4-orbitals) are assigned on the basis of the excited states of chromophore model for Zn-porphine complex calculated with the time-dependent DFT method. ET rates between each Gouterman's 4-orbitals and other MOs were estimated using Fermi's golden rule. It appeared that the two occupied MOs of the 4-orbitals show exclusively higher ET rate from/to particular MOs that localize on outermost amino acid residues (Lys 7 or Asn 54), respectively, whereas ET rates involving the two unoccupied MOs of the 4-orbitals are much slower. These results imply that the intramolecular ET in photoexcited Zn-cyt c is governed by the hole transfer through occupied MOs. The couplings of MOs between zinc porphyrin core and specific amino acid residues on the protein surface have been demonstrated in Zn-cyt c immobilized on an Au electrode via carboxylic acid group-terminated self-assembled monolayer. The Zn-cyt c-modified electrode showed photocurrents responsible for photoillumination. The action spectrum of the photocurrent was identical with the absorption spectrum of Zn-cyt c, indicating photoinduced electron conduction via occupied MOs. The voltage dependence of the photocurrent appeared to be linear and bidirectional like a photoconductor, which strongly supports the intramolecular ET mechanism in Zn-cyt c proposed on the basis of the theoretical calculations.     

Are atoms sic to molecular electronic wavefunctions? II. Analysis of fors orbitals

Electronic wavefunctions that describe molecules in the full optimized reaction space (FORS) are multiconfigurational wavefunctions which are invariant under non-singular linear transformations of the occupied molecular orbitals. They offer therefore a considerably wider scope for orbital interpretations than the single-configuration Hartree-Fock approximation. For example they can be analyzed in terms of natural MOs and in terms of localized MOs. The latter turn out to be remarkably atomic in character and a new localization procedure can be formulated which yields atom-adapted molecular orbitals. These have the character of minimal-basis-set AOs that are optimally adapted to the molecular environment and furnish an unambigious atomic population analysis. On the other hand, chemically adapted molecular orbitals can be defined by an appropriate compromise between natural orbitals and localized orbitals. The freedom to use, as configuration-generating molecular orbitals, atom-adapted FORS MOs as well as chemically adapted FORS MOs makes FORS wavefunctions particularly suitable for chemical interpretations. The ensuing analysis establishes the minimal basis set (in molecule-adapted form) as a theoretically sound concept for the understanding of accurate molecular wavefunctions. An illustrative example is discussed.     

NMR shielding tensors for density fitted local second-order Mo̸ller-Plesset perturbation theory using gauge including atomic orbitals

An efficient method for the calculation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) shielding tensors is presented, which treats electron correlation at the level of second-order Mo?ller-Plesset perturbation theory. It uses spatially localized functions to span occupied and virtual molecular orbital spaces, respectively, which are expanded in a basis of gauge including atomic orbitals (GIAOs or London atomic orbitals). Doubly excited determinants are restricted to local subsets of the virtual space and pair energies with an interorbital distance beyond a certain threshold are omitted. Furthermore, density fitting is employed to factorize the electron repulsion integrals. Ordinary Gaussians are employed as fitting functions. It is shown that the errors in the resulting NMR shielding constant, introduced (i) by the local approximation and (ii) by density fitting, are very small or even negligible. The capabilities of the new program are demonstrated by calculations on some extended molecular systems, such as the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer photolesion with adjacent nucleobases in the native intrahelical DNA double strand (ATTA sequence). Systems of that size were not accessible to correlated ab initio calculations of NMR spectra before. The presented method thus opens the door to new and interesting applications in this area.     

Projection between basis sets: A means of defining the electronic structure of functional subunits

The general problem of the transfer of the representation of a set of orthonormal functions from one basis to a different, nonequivalent one is considered and specialized to a matrix formulation convenient for use in molecular electronic structure calculations. A procedure is suggested for treating problems where the transfer of representation breaks into a subset of most interest and one of less interest as for example the occupied and virtual orbitals of a Hartree-Fock SCF calculation. These techniques are then applied to obtain a representation of a methyl group from an SCF wave function for methane.     

A study of the molecular orbital localization into an extended Hartree—Fock approach: Application to the BeH2 ground state

In this article, we present a study of the localization and properties of the molecular orbitals (MOs) of polyatomic systems by using a comprehensive version of the G1 model. In this version, the wave function is written as a DODS product of univocally determined spin orbitals (MOs), “projected” on the singlet ground state. A procedure for determining the MOs is given and applied to the BeH₂ ground state. Equivalent split shell and localized MOs are found. The Be orbitals are seen to exhibit sp hybridization and the localized valence MOs are found to produce − 13.7 kcal/mol localization energy. Multistructural calculations are carried out and show that the present approach is able to describe localized and well-oriented bonds whenever the molecule under study presents only a single well-defined nonresonant chemical structure. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Core-valence correlation effects in calcium hydride

Accurate multi-reference contracted CI calculations have been performed on CaH to determine the bond distance and the dissociation energy. At the Hartree-Fock limit a bond distance 0.10 au longer than in experiments is found. This value is not improved by a valence CI calculation. Including the core-valence (CV) contribution to the correlation energy makes the bond distance too short by 0.06 au, and agreement with experiments is obtained first when the core-core (CC) contribution from the 3p orbitals is added also. It turns out that the only orbital which needs to be treated of the core is the 3p σ orbital, which shows some bonding character at the CI level. Tight d functions to describe a 3d orbital of the type occupied in the ²D state of Ca^?, and f functions to correlate the 3p orbital are necessary for obtaining a good bond distance. For the dissociation energy a different trend is observed with excellent agreement with experiments at the CV level and no improvement over the SCF level at the CC level. The results are discussed and analyzed in detail in the text, where a section on size consistency is also added.