Although density functional theory is widely used in the computational chemistry community, the most popular density functional, B3LYP, has some serious shortcomings: (i) it is better for main-group chemistry than for transition metals; (ii) it systematically underestimates reaction barrier heights; (iii) it is inaccurate for interactions dominated by medium-range correlation energy, such as van der Waals attraction, aromatic−aromatic stacking, and alkane isomerization energies. We have developed a variety of databases for testing and designing new density functionals. We used these data to design new density functionals, called M06-class (and, earlier, M05-class) functionals, for which we enforced some fundamental exact constraints such as the uniform-electron-gas limit and the absence of self-correlation energy. Our M06-class functionals depend on spin-up and spin-down electron densities (i.e., spin densities), spin density gradients, spin kinetic energy densities, and, for nonlocal (also called hybrid)...

Density functionals with broad applicability in chemistry.

A summary of the technical advances that are incorporated in the fourth major release of the Q-Chem quantum chemistry program is provided, covering approximately the last seven years. These include developments in density functional theory methods and algorithms, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) property evaluation, coupled cluster and perturbation theories, methods for electronically excited and open-shell species, tools for treating extended environments, algorithms for walking on potential surfaces, analysis tools, energy and electron transfer modelling, parallel computing capabilities, and graphical user interfaces. In addition, a selection of example case studies that illustrate these capabilities is given. These include extensive benchmarks of the comparative accuracy of modern density functionals for bonded and non-bonded interactions, tests of attenuated second order Moller–Plesset (MP2) methods for intermolecular interactions, a variety of parallel performance benchmarks, and tests of the accuracy of implicit solvation models. Some specific chemical examples include calculations on the strongly correlated Cr_2 dimer, exploring zeolite-catalysed ethane dehydrogenation, energy decomposition analysis of a charged ter-molecular complex arising from glycerol photoionisation, and natural transition orbitals for a Frenkel exciton state in a nine-unit model of a self-assembling nanotube.

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Advances in molecular quantum chemistry contained in the Q-Chem 4 program package

A summary of the technical advances that are incorporated in the fourth major release of the Q-Chem quantum chemistry program is provided, covering approximately the last seven years. These include developments in density functional theory methods and algorithms, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) property evaluation, coupled cluster and perturbation theories, methods for electronically excited and open-shell species, tools for treating extended environments, algorithms for walking on potential surfaces, analysis tools, energy and electron transfer modelling, parallel computing capabilities, and graphical user interfaces. In addition, a selection of example case studies that illustrate these capabilities is given. These include extensive benchmarks of the comparative accuracy of modern density functionals for bonded and non-bonded interactions, tests of attenuated second order Møller–Plesset (MP2) methods for intermolecular interactions, a variety of parallel performance benchmarks, and tests of the accuracy of implicit solvation models. Some specific chemical examples include calculations on the strongly correlated Cr2 dimer, exploring zeolite-catalysed ethane dehydrogenation, energy decomposition analysis of a charged ter-molecular complex arising from glycerol photoionisation, and natural transition orbitals for a Frenkel exciton state in a nine-unit model of a self-assembling nanotube.

RESEARCH ARTICLE Advances in molecular quantum chemistry contained in the Q-Chem 4 program package

: The unpolarized absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the fundamental vibrational transitions of the chiral molecule, 4-methyl-2-oxetanone, are calculated ab initio. Harmonic force fields are obtained using Density Functional Theory (DFT), MP2, and SCF methodologies and a 5S4P2D/3S2P (TZ2P) basis set. DFT calculations use the Local Spin Density Approximation (LSDA), BLYP, and Becke3LYP (B3LYP) density functionals. Mid-IR spectra predicted using LSDA, BLYP, and B3LYP force fields are of significantly different quality, the B3LYP force field yielding spectra in clearly superior, and overall excellent, agreement with experiment. The MP2 force field yields spectra in slightly worse agreement with experiment than the B3LYP force field. The SCF force field yields spectra in poor agreement with experiment.The basis set dependence of B3LYP force fields is also explored: the 6-31G* and TZ2P basis sets give very similar results while the 3-21G basis set yields spectra in substantially worse agreements with experiment. jg

Ab initio calculation of vibrational absorption and circular dichroism spectra using density functional force fields

Noncovalent interactions: a challenge for experiment and theory

Size-dependent development of the hydrogen bond network structure in largesized clusters of protonated water, H+(H2O)n (n = 4 to 27), was probed by infrared spectroscopy of OH stretches. Spectral changes with cluster size demonstrate that the chain structures at small sizes (n ≲ 10) develop into two-dimensional net structures (∼10

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/304/5674/1134.full.pdf

Infrared spectroscopic evidence for protonated water clusters forming nanoscale cages.

Vibrational spectroscopies of small-sized hydrogen-bonded clusters of organic acids and related molecules, as well as their ions, are reviewed based on our recent results. OH stretching vibrations of the jet-cooled clusters generated by supersonic expansions are observed by the various size-selected and population-labelling spectroscopic methods; ionization detected infrared (IR) and or stimulated Raman spectroscopies for the neutral clusters in the electronical ground state (S ) and fluorescence detected IR spectroscopy for the clusters in the electronically excited state (S ). The hydrogen-bond structures of phenol-(H O) clusters are n extensively investigated on the basis of the spectral analysis combined with ab initio calculations of their stable forms and vibrations. Remarkable enhancement of the hydrogen-bond strength upon electronic excitation is demonstrated for the IR spectra of the S clusters of phenol. For tropolone-(H O) and- (CH OH) n n clusters, (phenol), and fluorobenzene-(CH OH) clusters,...

Vibrational spectroscopy of small-sized hydrogen-bonded clusters and their ions

Recently reported high-level ab initio calculations and gas phase spectroscopic measurements show that the nature of CH/π interactions is considerably different from conventional hydrogen bonds, although the CH/π interactions were often regarded as the weakest class of hydrogen bonds. The major source of attraction in the CH/π interaction is the dispersion interaction and the electrostatic contribution is small, while the electrostatic interaction is mainly responsible for the attraction in the conventional hydrogen bonds. The nature of the “typical” CH/π interactions is similar to that of van der Waals interactions, if some exceptional “activated” CH/π interactions of highly acidic C–H bonds are excluded. Shifts of C–H vibrational frequencies and electronic spectra also support the similarity. The hydrogen bond is important in controlling structures of molecular assemblies, since the hydrogen bond is sufficiently strong and directional due to the large electrostatic contribution. On the other hand, the directionality of the “typical” CH/π interaction is very weak. Although the “typical” CH/π interaction is often regarded as an important interaction in controlling the structures of molecular assemblies as in the cases of conventional hydrogen bonds, the importance of the “typical” CH/π interactions is questionable.

Nature and physical origin of CH/π interaction: significant difference from conventional hydrogen bonds

We report infrared spectra of hydrogen-bonded phenol−amine clusters, phenol−NH3, −N(CH3)3, −NH(C2H5)2, and −N(C2H5)3, prepared in jet expansions. The OH, NH, and CH stretching fundamentals were studied. Infrared−ultraviolet double-resonance techniques were utilized for vibrational spectroscopy of size-selected clusters. The OH stretch frequencies of the phenol moieties showed extremely large red-shifts from that of bare phenol, reflecting the strong proton affinities of the amines. Moreover, non-proton-transferred structures of the clusters were confirmed. The detailed structure of phenol−NH3 was examined by ab initio calculations, which reproduced the observed infrared spectrum.

Infrared Spectroscopy of Hydrogen-Bonded Phenol−Amine Clusters in Supersonic Jets

The accurate CH/pi interaction energy of the benzene-methane model system was experimentally and theoretically determined. In the experiment, mass analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy was applied to the benzene-methane cluster in the gas phase, prepared in a supersonic molecular beam. The binding energy in the neutral ground state of the cluster, which is regarded as the CH/pi interaction energy for this model system, was evaluated from the dissociation threshold measurements of the cluster cation. The experimentally determined binding energy (D(0)) was 1.03-1.13 kcal/mol. The interaction energy of the model system was calculated by ab initio molecular orbital methods. The estimated CCSD(T) interaction energy at the basis set limit (D(e)) was -1.43 kcal/mol. The calculated binding energy (D(0)) after the vibrational zero-point energy correction (1.13 kcal/mol) agrees well with the experimental value. The effects of basis set and electron correlation correction procedure on the calculated CH/pi interaction energy were evaluated. Accuracy of the calculated interaction energies by DFT methods using BLYP, B3LYP, PW91 and PBE functionals was also discussed.

Asuka Fujii

Papers

Infrared spectroscopic evidence for protonated water clusters forming nanoscale cages.

Vibrational spectroscopy of small-sized hydrogen-bonded clusters and their ions

Nature and physical origin of CH/π interaction: significant difference from conventional hydrogen bonds

Infrared Spectroscopy of Hydrogen-Bonded Phenol−Amine Clusters in Supersonic Jets

Magnitude of the CH/π Interaction in the Gas Phase: Experimental and Theoretical Determination of the Accurate Interaction Energy in Benzene-methane