The performance of fragment-based ab initio(1)H, (13)C, (15)N and (17)O chemical shift predictions is assessed against experimental NMR chemical shift data in four benchmark sets of molecular crystals. Employing a variety of commonly used density functionals (PBE0, B3LYP, TPSSh, OPBE, PBE, TPSS), we explore the relative performance of cluster, two-body fragment, and combined cluster/fragment models. The hybrid density functionals (PBE0, B3LYP and TPSSh) generally out-perform their generalized gradient approximation (GGA)-based counterparts. (1)H, (13)C, (15)N, and (17)O isotropic chemical shifts can be predicted with root-mean-square errors of 0.3, 1.5, 4.2, and 9.8 ppm, respectively, using a computationally inexpensive electrostatically embedded two-body PBE0 fragment model. Oxygen chemical shieldings prove particularly sensitive to local many-body effects, and using a combined cluster/fragment model instead of the simple two-body fragment model decreases the root-mean-square errors to 7.6 ppm. These fragment-based model errors compare favorably with GIPAW PBE ones of 0.4, 2.2, 5.4, and 7.2 ppm for the same (1)H, (13)C, (15)N, and (17)O test sets. Using these benchmark calculations, a set of recommended linear regression parameters for mapping between calculated chemical shieldings and observed chemical shifts are provided and their robustness assessed using statistical cross-validation. We demonstrate the utility of these approaches and the reported scaling parameters on applications to 9-tert-butyl anthracene, several histidine co-crystals, benzoic acid and the C-nitrosoarene SnCl2(CH3)2(NODMA)2.

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Benchmark fragment-based (1)H, (13)C, (15)N and (17)O chemical shift predictions in molecular crystals.

The role of charge transfer in halogen bonding is the subject of an ongoing debate and controversy. It is clear from experimental data that charge transfer occurs in halogen bonds, but its contribution to the energetics of the interaction can be evaluated only computationally. Since the charge transfer is not a physically well-defined property, there are multiple computational approaches, which could yield very different results. In this work, we investigate this topic using our recently developed method based on constrained DFT, which allows the quantification of net charge transfer and the associated interaction energy component [Řezac et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput., 2015]. It is based on the spatial definition of molecular fragments using the superimposed electron density of non-interacting fragments as a reference state free of charge transfer. This definition is close to the intuitive view of charge transfer, yet it removes any arbitrariness in the partitioning of the molecular complex. It has been shown to be very reliable as it avoids the issues encountered in other definitions of charge transfer. For example, the results are independent of the basis set. These calculations are complemented with DFT-SAPT decomposition, which yields the other components of the interaction energy. We have found the energetic contribution of charge transfer to halogen bonding to be rather small, on average about 10% of the interaction energy, which is less than that in hydrogen bonds. Even in very strong halogen bonds, where the absolute value of the charge-transfer energy becomes larger, it is still only a small fraction of the other attractive terms obtained from DFT-SAPT. These results suggest that although it is present, charge transfer is not the determining factor in halogen bonding.

/pdf/on-the-role-of-charge-transfer-in-halogen-bonding-1hzom4wm23.pdf

On the role of charge transfer in halogen bonding

In recent years, halogen bonding has become an important design tool in crystal engineering, supramolecular chemistry and biosciences. The fundamentals of halogen bonding have been studied extensively with high-accuracy computational methods. Due to its non-covalency, the use of triple-zeta (or larger) basis sets is often recommended when studying halogen bonding. However, in the large systems often encountered in supramolecular chemistry and biosciences, large basis sets can make the calculations far too slow. Therefore, small basis sets, which would combine high computational speed and high accuracy, are in great demand. This study focuses on comparing how well density functional theory (DFT) methods employing small, double-zeta basis sets can estimate halogen-bond strengths. Several methods with triple-zeta basis sets are included for comparison. Altogether, 46 DFT methods were tested using two data sets of 18 and 33 halogen-bonded complexes for which the complexation energies have been previously calculated with the high-accuracy CCSD(T)/CBS method. The DGDZVP basis set performed far better than other double-zeta basis sets, and it even outperformed the triple-zeta basis sets. Due to its small size, it is well-suited to studying halogen bonding in large systems.

Benchmarking DFT methods with small basis sets for the calculation of halogen-bond strengths

The spin-orbit coupling constants (SOCC) in atoms and ions of the first- through third-row transition elements were calculated for the low-lying atomic states whose main electron configuration is [ nd] q ( q = 1-4 and 6-9, n = the principal quantum number), using four different approaches: (1) a nonrelativistic Hamiltonian used to construct multiconfiguration self-consistent field (MCSCF) wave functions utilizing effective core potentials and their associated basis sets within the framework of second-order configuration interaction (SOCI) to calculate spin-orbit couplings (SOC) using one-electron Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian (BPH), (2) a nonrelativistic Hamiltonian used to construct MCSCF wave functions utilizing model core potentials and their associated basis sets within the framework of SOCI to calculate SOC using the full BPH, (3) nonrelativistic and spin-independent relativistic Hamiltonians used to construct MCSCF wave functions utilizing all-electron (AE) basis sets within the framework of SOCI to calculate SOC using the full BPH, and (4) a relativistic Hamiltonian given by the exact two-component (X2C) transformation for construction of Kramers-restricted relativistic configuration interaction wave functions. In this investigation, these four approaches are referred to as ECP, MCP, AE, and X2C methods, respectively. The ECP, MCP, and AE methods are so-called two-step approaches (TSA), while the X2C method is a one-step approach (OSA). In the AE method, three different calculations-relativistic elimination of small components (RESC), third-order Douglas-Kroll-Hess (DKH3), and infinite-order two-component (IOTC) relativistic correction-were performed for the estimation of the scalar relativistic components in addition to those of the nonscalar relativistic (NSR) contributions. The calculated SOCC are compared to the available experimental data via the Lande interval rule. Although there are several exceptions, including states whose main configuration is [ nd]5, the average differences between the ECP and AE (IOTC) SOCC and between the ECP and the X2C SOCC are mostly less than 20%. The differences between the ECP and the experimental SOCC are even smaller. No serious discrepancy was found between the TSA and OSA predictions of SOCC for the first- and second-row transition elements in comparison to experiment. For atoms and ions of the third-row transition elements, the SOCC calculated through the Lande interval rule are not reliable. The low-energy spin-mixed (SM) states originating from a [5d] q configuration ( q = 2-4) have a larger energy lowering due to the SOC effects, in comparison with those for atoms and ions of the first- and second-row transition elements. For the spin-mixed (SM) states originating from a [5d] q configuration ( q = 6-8), the energy lowering of all 4F7/2, 5D1, and 5D3 states due to the SOC effects is smaller than those of the other SM states. This difficulty, which also arises for the MCP, AE, and X2C (OSA) approaches, suggests that the LS-coupling scheme is inappropriate.

Spin─Orbit Coupling Constants in Atoms and Ions of Transition Elements: Comparison of Effective Core Potentials, Model Core Potentials, and All-Electron Methods

All-electron contracted Gaussian basis set of triple zeta valence quality plus polarisation functions (TZP) for the elements Cs, Ba, La, and from Hf to Rn is presented. Douglas–Kroll–Hess (DKH) basis set for fifth-row elements is also reported. We have recontracted the original TZP basis set, i.e., the values of the contraction coefficients are re-optimised using the second-order DKH Hamiltonian. By addition of diffuse functions (s, p, d, f, and g symmetries), which are optimised for the anion ground states, an augmented TZP basis set is constructed. Using the B3LYP hybrid functional, the performance of the TZP–DKH basis set is assessed for predicting atomic ionisation energy as well as spectroscopy constants of some compounds. Despite its compact size, this set demonstrates consistent, efficient, and reliable performance and will be especially useful in calculations of molecular properties that require explicit treatment of the core electrons.

http://bkp.sbqt-2015.net.br/arquivos/Todos%20Resumos/Lucas%20S%20Martins.pdf

F.A.L. de Souza

Papers

Augmented Gaussian basis sets for the elements K, Sc–Kr, Rb, and Y–Xe: Application in HF, MP2, and DFT calculations of molecular electric properties