MNDO/AM1‐type parameters for twelve elements have been optimized using a newly developed method for optimizing parameters for semiempirical methods. With the new method, MNDO‐PM3, the average difference between the predicted heats of formation and experimental values for 657 compounds is 7.8 kcal/mol, and for 106 hypervalent compounds, 13.6 kcal/mol. For MNDO the equivalent differences are 13.9 and 75.8 kcal/mol, while those for AM1, in which MNDO parameters are used for aluminum, phosphorus, and sulfur, are 12.7 and 83.1 kcal/mol, respectively. Average errors for ionization potentials, bond angles, and dipole moments are intermediate between those for MNDO and AM1, while errors in bond lengths are slightly reduced.

Optimization of parameters for semiempirical methods II. Applications

Before we start, we need a working definition for MOPAC. The following description has been used many times to describe MOPAC: MOPAC is a general-purpose, semiempirical molecular orbital program for the study of chemical reactions involving molecules, ions, and linear polymers. It implements the semiempirical Hamiltonians MNDO, AM 1, MINDO/3, and MNDOPM3, and combir_es the calculations of vibrational spectra, thermodynamic quantities, isotopic substitution effects, and force constants in a fully integrated program. Elements parameterized at the MNDO level include H, Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F, A1, Si, P, S, C1, Ge, Br, Sn, Hg, Pb, and I; at the PM3 level the elements H, C, N, O, F, A1, Si, P, S, C1, Br, and I are available. Within the electronic part of the calculation, molecular and localized orbitals, excited states up to sextets, chemical bond indices, charges, etc. are computed. Both intrinsic and dynamic reaction coordinates can be calculated. A transition-state location routine and two transition-state optimizing routines are available for studying chemical reactions.

MOPAC: A semiempirical molecular orbital program

A combined quantum mechanical (QM) and molecular mechanical (MM) potential has been developed for the study of reactions in condensed phases. For the quantum mechanical calculations semiempirical methods of the MNDO and AM1 type are used, while the molecular mechanics part is treated with the CHARMM force field. Specific prescriptions are given for the interactions between the QM and MM portions of the system; cases in which the QM and MM methodology is applied to parts of the same molecule or to different molecules are considered. The details of the method and a range of test calculations, including comparisons with ab initio and experimental results, are given. It is found that in many cases satisfactory results are obtained. However, there are limitations to this type of approach, some of which arise from the AM1 or MNDO methods themselves and others from the present QM/MM implementation. This suggests that it is important to test the applicability of the method to each particular case prior to its use. Possible areas of improvement in the methodology are discussed.

A combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical potential for molecular dynamics simulations

Using a recently developed procedure for optimizing parameters for semiempirical methods,1 PM3 has been extended to a total of 28 elements. Average ΔHf errors for the newly parameterized elements are Be: 8.6, Mg: 8.4, Zn: 5.8, Ga: 14.9, Ge: 11.4, As: 8.5, Se: 11.1, Cd: 2.6, In: 11.3, Sn: 9.0, Sb: 13.7, Te: 11.3, Hg: 6.8, Tl: 6.5, Pb: 7.4, and Bi: 10.9 kcal/mol. For some elements the paucity of data has resulted in a method, which, while highly accurate, is likely to be only poorly predictive.

Optimization of parameters for semiempirical methods. III. Extension of PM3 to Be, Mg, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Hg, Tl, Pb, and Bi

The reaction mechanism of photocatalytic CO2 reduction using rhenium(I) complexes has been investigated by means of a detailed comparison of the photocatalyses of three rhenium(I) complexes, fac-[Re(bpy)(CO)3L] (L = SCN- (1-NCS), Cl- (1-Cl), and CN- (1-CN)). The corresponding one-electron-reduced species (OER) of the complexes play two important roles in the reaction:  (a) capturing CO2 after loss of the monodentate ligand (L) and (b) donation of the second electron to CO2 by another OER without loss of L. In the case of 1-NCS, the corresponding OER has both of the capabilities in the photocatalytic reaction, resulting in more efficient CO formation (with a quantum yield of 0.30) than that of 1-Cl (quantum yield of 0.16), for which OER species have too short a lifetime to accumulate during the photocatalytic reaction. On the other hand, 1-CN showed no photocatalytic ability, because the corresponding OER species does not dissociate the CN- ligand. Based on this mechanistic information, the most efficient ...

Gilbert L. Grady

Papers

Revised MNDO parameters for silicon

Ground states of molecules. 73. MNDO calculations for compounds containing germanium

MNDO calculations for compounds containing zinc