John A. Pople

Bio: John A. Pople is an academic researcher from Stanford University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Molecular orbital theory & Ab initio. The author has an hindex of 79, co-authored 241 publications receiving 72851 citations. Previous affiliations of John A. Pople include Louisiana State University & Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Self—Consistent Molecular Orbital Methods. XII. Further Extensions of Gaussian—Type Basis Sets for Use in Molecular Orbital Studies of Organic Molecules

Abstract: Two extended basis sets (termed 5–31G and 6–31G) consisting of atomic orbitals expressed as fixed linear combinations of Gaussian functions are presented for the first row atoms carbon to fluorine. These basis functions are similar to the 4–31G set [J. Chem. Phys. 54, 724 (1971)] in that each valence shell is split into inner and outer parts described by three and one Gaussian function, respectively. Inner shells are represented by a single basis function taken as a sum of five (5–31G) or six (6–31G) Gaussians. Studies with a number of polyatomic molecules indicate a substantial lowering of calculated total energies over the 4–31G set. Calculated relative energies and equilibrium geometries do not appear to be altered significantly.

Self‐Consistent Molecular‐Orbital Methods. IX. An Extended Gaussian‐Type Basis for Molecular‐Orbital Studies of Organic Molecules

Abstract: An extended basis set of atomic functions expressed as fixed linear combinations of Gaussian functions is presented for hydrogen and the first‐row atoms carbon to fluorine. In this set, described as 4–31 G, each inner shell is represented by a single basis function taken as a sum of four Gaussians and each valence orbital is split into inner and outer parts described by three and one Gaussian function, respectively. The expansion coefficients and Gaussian exponents are determined by minimizing the total calculated energy of the atomic ground state. This basis set is then used in single‐determinant molecular‐orbital studies of a group of small polyatomic molecules. Optimization of valence‐shell scaling factors shows that considerable rescaling of atomic functions occurs in molecules, the largest effects being observed for hydrogen and carbon. However, the range of optimum scale factors for each atom is small enough to allow the selection of a standard molecular set. The use of this standard basis gives theoretical equilibrium geometries in reasonable agreement with experiment.

Self‐consistent molecular orbital methods 25. Supplementary functions for Gaussian basis sets

Abstract: Standard sets of supplementary diffuse s and p functions, multiple polarization functions (double and triple sets of d functions), and higher angular momentum polarization functions (f functions) are defined for use with the 6‐31G and 6‐311G basis sets. Preliminary applications of the modified basis sets to the calculation of the bond energy and hydrogenation energy of N2 illustrate that these functions can be very important in the accurate computation of reaction energies.

Self‐consistent molecular orbital methods. XXIII. A polarization‐type basis set for second‐row elements

Abstract: The 6‐31G* and 6‐31G** basis sets previously introduced for first‐row atoms have been extended through the second‐row of the periodic table. Equilibrium geometries for one‐heavy‐atom hydrides calculated for the two‐basis sets and using Hartree–Fock wave functions are in good agreement both with each other and with the experimental data. HF/6‐31G* structures, obtained for two‐heavy‐atom hydrides and for a variety of hypervalent second‐row molecules, are also in excellent accord with experimental equilibrium geometries. No large deviations between calculated and experimental single bond lengths have been noted, in contrast to previous work on analogous first‐row compounds, where limiting Hartree–Fock distances were in error by up to a tenth of an angstrom. Equilibrium geometries calculated at the HF/6‐31G level are consistently in better agreement with the experimental data than are those previously obtained using the simple split‐valance 3‐21G basis set for both normal‐ and hypervalent compounds. Normal‐mode vibrational frequencies derived from 6‐31G* level calculations are consistently larger than the corresponding experimental values, typically by 10%–15%; they are of much more uniform quality than those obtained from the 3‐21G basis set. Hydrogenation energies calculated for normal‐ and hypervalent compounds are in moderate accord with experimental data, although in some instances large errors appear. Calculated energies relating to the stabilities of single and multiple bonds are in much better accord with the experimental energy differences.

Quadratic configuration interaction. A general technique for determining electron correlation energies

Abstract: A general procedure is introduced for calculation of the electron correlation energy, starting from a single Hartree–Fock determinant. The normal equations of (linear) configuration interaction theory are modified by introducing new terms which are quadratic in the configuration coefficients and which ensure size consistency in the resulting total energy. When used in the truncated configuration space of single and double substitutions, the method, termed QCISD, leads to a tractable set of quadratic equations. The relation of this method to coupled‐cluster (CCSD) theory is discussed. A simplified method of adding corrections for triple substitutions is outlined, leading to a method termed QCISD(T). Both of these new procedures are tested (and compared with other procedures) by application to some small systems for which full configuration interaction results are available.

Density‐functional thermochemistry. III. The role of exact exchange

Abstract: Despite the remarkable thermochemical accuracy of Kohn–Sham density‐functional theories with gradient corrections for exchange‐correlation [see, for example, A. D. Becke, J. Chem. Phys. 96, 2155 (1992)], we believe that further improvements are unlikely unless exact‐exchange information is considered. Arguments to support this view are presented, and a semiempirical exchange‐correlation functional containing local‐spin‐density, gradient, and exact‐exchange terms is tested on 56 atomization energies, 42 ionization potentials, 8 proton affinities, and 10 total atomic energies of first‐ and second‐row systems. This functional performs significantly better than previous functionals with gradient corrections only, and fits experimental atomization energies with an impressively small average absolute deviation of 2.4 kcal/mol.

Semiempirical GGA-type density functional constructed with a long-range dispersion correction.

Abstract: A new density functional (DF) of the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) type for general chemistry applications termed B97-D is proposed. It is based on Becke's power-series ansatz from 1997 and is explicitly parameterized by including damped atom-pairwise dispersion corrections of the form C(6) x R(-6). A general computational scheme for the parameters used in this correction has been established and parameters for elements up to xenon and a scaling factor for the dispersion part for several common density functionals (BLYP, PBE, TPSS, B3LYP) are reported. The new functional is tested in comparison with other GGAs and the B3LYP hybrid functional on standard thermochemical benchmark sets, for 40 noncovalently bound complexes, including large stacked aromatic molecules and group II element clusters, and for the computation of molecular geometries. Further cross-validation tests were performed for organometallic reactions and other difficult problems for standard functionals. In summary, it is found that B97-D belongs to one of the most accurate general purpose GGAs, reaching, for example for the G97/2 set of heat of formations, a mean absolute deviation of only 3.8 kcal mol(-1). The performance for noncovalently bound systems including many pure van der Waals complexes is exceptionally good, reaching on the average CCSD(T) accuracy. The basic strategy in the development to restrict the density functional description to shorter electron correlation lengths scales and to describe situations with medium to large interatomic distances by damped C(6) x R(-6) terms seems to be very successful, as demonstrated for some notoriously difficult reactions. As an example, for the isomerization of larger branched to linear alkanes, B97-D is the only DF available that yields the right sign for the energy difference. From a practical point of view, the new functional seems to be quite robust and it is thus suggested as an efficient and accurate quantum chemical method for large systems where dispersion forces are of general importance.

The M06 suite of density functionals for main group thermochemistry, thermochemical kinetics, noncovalent interactions, excited states, and transition elements: two new functionals and systematic testing of four M06-class functionals and 12 other functionals

Abstract: We present two new hybrid meta exchange- correlation functionals, called M06 and M06-2X. The M06 functional is parametrized including both transition metals and nonmetals, whereas the M06-2X functional is a high-nonlocality functional with double the amount of nonlocal exchange (2X), and it is parametrized only for nonmetals.The functionals, along with the previously published M06-L local functional and the M06-HF full-Hartree–Fock functionals, constitute the M06 suite of complementary functionals. We assess these four functionals by comparing their performance to that of 12 other functionals and Hartree–Fock theory for 403 energetic data in 29 diverse databases, including ten databases for thermochemistry, four databases for kinetics, eight databases for noncovalent interactions, three databases for transition metal bonding, one database for metal atom excitation energies, and three databases for molecular excitation energies. We also illustrate the performance of these 17 methods for three databases containing 40 bond lengths and for databases containing 38 vibrational frequencies and 15 vibrational zero point energies. We recommend the M06-2X functional for applications involving main-group thermochemistry, kinetics, noncovalent interactions, and electronic excitation energies to valence and Rydberg states. We recommend the M06 functional for application in organometallic and inorganometallic chemistry and for noncovalent interactions.

General atomic and molecular electronic structure system

Abstract: A description of the ab initio quantum chemistry package GAMESS is presented. Chemical systems containing atoms through radon can be treated with wave functions ranging from the simplest closed-shell case up to a general MCSCF case, permitting calculations at the necessary level of sophistication. Emphasis is given to novel features of the program. The parallelization strategy used in the RHF, ROHF, UHF, and GVB sections of the program is described, and detailed speecup results are given. Parallel calculations can be run on ordinary workstations as well as dedicated parallel machines. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Multiwfn: a multifunctional wavefunction analyzer.

Abstract: Multiwfn is a multifunctional program for wavefunction analysis. Its main functions are: (1) Calculating and visualizing real space function, such as electrostatic potential and electron localization function at point, in a line, in a plane or in a spatial scope. (2) Population analysis. (3) Bond order analysis. (4) Orbital composition analysis. (5) Plot density-of-states and spectrum. (6) Topology analysis for electron density. Some other useful utilities involved in quantum chemistry studies are also provided. The built-in graph module enables the results of wavefunction analysis to be plotted directly or exported to high-quality graphic file. The program interface is very user-friendly and suitable for both research and teaching purpose. The code of Multiwfn is substantially optimized and parallelized. Its efficiency is demonstrated to be significantly higher than related programs with the same functions. Five practical examples involving a wide variety of systems and analysis methods are given to illustrate the usefulness of Multiwfn. The program is free of charge and open-source. Its precompiled file and source codes are available from http://multiwfn.codeplex.com.