Ab initio SCF calculations on [V10O28]6−: A benchmark for the classical calculation and processing of molecular integrals on large Gaussian basis sets

A vector efficient implementation of the McMurchie and Davidson algorithm for the calculation of one- and two-electron molecular integrals is presented, as available in the Cray version of the ASTERIX program system. The implementation and performance of a vector-oriented strategy for the generation and processing of the P supermatrix is also discussed. This program system has been applied to the ab initio SCF computation of the ground-state wave function for the [V₁₀O₂₈]^6? ion, with a basis set of triple-zeta quality for the valence shell of oxygen generating 1404 GTOS and 574 CGTOS for the complete system. The performance and the bottlenecks of the integral calculation are discussed as a function of the integral classes. Two-dimensional maps of the electrostatic potential are presented for this molecule and compared to experimental information about proton fixation.     

Electronic origin of the structural versatility in linear trichromium complexes of dipyridylamide

Spin unrestricted DFT calculations on Cr3(dpa)4Cl2 (dpa = dipyridylamide) suggest that the linear (Cr3)6+ metal framework could adopt either a symmetric conformation, or a strongly nonsymmetric one, depending on the nature of the spin coupling between the localized metal electrons.     

Electronic Structure of Rh(2)(&mgr;-CO)(CO)(2)(H(2)PCH(2)PH(2))(2). An Example of a Non-A-Frame Structure

Calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree-Fock configuration interaction (HF-CI) methodology have been carried out to investigate the rhodium-rhodium coupling in Rh(2)(CO)(2)(dppm)(2), 1 (dppm = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2)) and in Rh(2)(&mgr;-CO)(CO)(2)(dppm)(2), 2. DFT geometries, obtained with the Dgauss program, are in good agreement with those determined from X-ray, but HF geometries, calculated using the same basis sets, yield bond distances systematically too long. Calculations indicate that the rhodium atoms in 1 are linked by a single bond. The insertion of a semibridging carbonyl between the two metal atoms leads to a shortening of the rhodium-rhodium distance and also to a noticeable weakening of the metal-metal interaction. Both effects, and also the stabilization of the HOMO of 2, are related to an observed change from square planar to tetrahedral of the ligand environment of the Rh atom proximal to the inserted CO. Both MO analysis and bond characterization from the topology of the charge density confirm the existence of a bonding interaction between the semibridging carbonyl and the distal rhodium atom. The electronic structures of the dicationic complex [Rh(2)(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)](2+) and of the A-frame-like, isoelectronic system Rh(2)Br(2)(&mgr;-CO) (dppm)(2) are also discussed. The electron deformation density is derived from 2 by means of several methodological approaches, namely, HF, HF-CI, DFT, and DFT + gradient corrections. The HF deformation density obtained in the plane containing the metals and the three CO ligands is discussed, as well as the "correlation density" obtained from the difference maps DFT - HF and CI - HF.     

Practical synthesis of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose and 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate allowing deuterium labelling

An optimised gram scale synthesis allows the production of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose and 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate with possible deuterium labelling at C-5. Such substrates are required for investigations on the mevalonate-independent 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis in bacteria and chloroplasts of phototrophic eukaryotes and for the biosynthesis of vitamins B₁ (thiamine diphosphate) and B₆ (pyridoxol phosphate) in bacteria.