junChS and junChS-F12 Models: Parameter-free Efficient yet Accurate Composite Schemes for Energies and Structures of Noncovalent Complexes.
22 Oct 2021-Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation (American Chemical Society (ACS))-Vol. 17, Iss: 11, pp 6974-6992
TL;DR: In this paper, a family of effective, reliable, and parameter-free schemes for the computation of accurate interaction energies of molecular complexes ruled by noncovalent interactions is proposed, which employs cost-effective revDSD-PBEP86-D3(BJ) reference geometries.
Abstract: A recently developed model chemistry (denoted as junChS [Alessandrini, S.; et al. J. Chem. Theory Comput.2020,16, 988-1006]) has been extended to the employment of explicitly correlated (F12) methods. This led us to propose a family of effective, reliable, and parameter-free schemes for the computation of accurate interaction energies of molecular complexes ruled by noncovalent interactions. A thorough benchmark based on a wide range of interactions showed that the so-called junChS-F12 model, which employs cost-effective revDSD-PBEP86-D3(BJ) reference geometries, has an improved performance with respect to its conventional counterpart and outperforms well-known model chemistries. Without employing any empirical parameter and at an affordable computational cost, junChS-F12 reaches subchemical accuracy. Accurate characterizations of molecular complexes are usually limited to energetics. To take a step forward, the conventional and F12 composite schemes developed for interaction energies have been extended to structural determinations. A benchmark study demonstrated that the most effective option is to add MP2-F12 core-valence correlation corrections to fc-CCSD(T)-F12/jun-cc-pVTZ geometries without the need of recovering the basis set superposition error and the extrapolation to the complete basis set.
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TL;DR: In this paper , it is shown how it is possible to measure the accuracy of a computed equilibrium geometry based on the comparison of rotational constants and what accuracy is required by computations for providing molecular structures.
Abstract: Rotational spectroscopy is the technique of choice for investigating molecular structures in the gas phase. Indeed, rotational constants are strongly connected to the geometry of the molecular system under consideration. Therefore, they are powerful tools for assessing the accuracy that quantum chemical approaches can reach in structural determinations. In this review article, it is shown how it is possible to measure the accuracy of a computed equilibrium geometry based on the comparison of rotational constants. But, it is also addressed what accuracy is required by computations for providing molecular structures and thus rotational constants that are useful to experiment. Quantum chemical methodologies for obtaining the "0.1% accuracy" for rotational constants are reviewed for systems ranging in size from small molecules to small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This accuracy for systems containing two dozen or so atoms opens the way towards future applications such as the accurate characterization of non-covalent interactions, which play a key role in several biological and technological processes.
12 citations
TL;DR: An integrated experimental-computational strategy for the accurate characterization of the conformational landscape of flexible biomolecule building blocks is proposed in this article , which is based on the combination of rotational spectroscopy with quantum-chemical computations guided by artificial intelligence tools.
Abstract: An integrated experimental-computational strategy for the accurate characterization of the conformational landscape of flexible biomolecule building blocks is proposed. This is based on the combination of rotational spectroscopy with quantum-chemical computations guided by artificial intelligence tools. The first step of the strategy is the conformer search and relative stability evaluation performed by means of an evolutionary algorithm. In this step, last generation semiempirical methods are exploited together with hybrid and double-hybrid density functionals. Next, the barriers ruling the interconversion between the low-lying conformers are evaluated in order to unravel the possible fast relaxation paths. The relative stabilities and spectroscopic parameters of the "surviving" conformers are then refined using state-of-the-art composite schemes. The reliability of the computational procedure is further improved by the inclusion of vibrational and thermal effects. The final step of the strategy is the comparison between experiment and theory without any ad hoc adjustment, which allows an unbiased assignment of the spectroscopic features in terms of different conformers and their spectroscopic parameters. The proposed approach has been tested and validated for homocysteine, a highly flexible non-proteinogenic α-amino acid. The synergism of the integrated strategy allowed for the characterization of five conformers stabilized by bifurcated N-H2⋯O=C hydrogen bonds, together with an additional conformer involving a more conventional HN⋯H-O hydrogen bond. The stability order estimated from the experimental intensities as well as the number and type of conformers observed in the gas phase are in full agreement with the theoretical predictions. Analogously, a good match has been found for the spectroscopic parameters.
10 citations
TL;DR: There are over 100 contemporary variants of composite ab initio methods to choose from, with many variants implemented as a keyword in popular quantum chemical packages as mentioned in this paper , which makes it difficult to choose a proper method for a given chemical system, property, and desired accuracy.
Abstract: Twenty-five years ago, the two main pillars of quantum chemistry—density functional and composite ab initio theories—were recognized with a Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Walter Kohn and John Pople. This recognition sparked intense theoretical developments in both fields. Whereas in 1998, the year the Nobel Prize was awarded, there were only a handful of composite ab initio methods; most notably the Gaussian-n methods (n = 1–3), CBS methods (e.g., CBS-QCI and CBS-APNO), and the focal-point analysis approach, today there are many more families of such methods, including the Weizmann-n, MCCM, HEAT, ccCA, FPD, ATOMIC, INT-MP2-F12, and ChS family of methods, where some of these families include dozens of variants. Overall, there are over 100 contemporary variants of composite ab initio methods to choose from, with many variants implemented as a keyword in popular quantum chemical packages. This situation makes it difficult to choose a proper method for a given chemical system, property, and desired accuracy. This chapter provides an overview of contemporary composite ab initio methods applicable to first- and second-row elements, their main energetic components, and their expected accuracy and applicability. To guide the selection of a suitable method for a given chemical system and desired accuracy, the various methods are classified according to a ‘Jacob's Ladder’ of composite ab initio methods, from computationally economical methods that are capable of approaching chemical accuracy to computationally demanding methods capable of confident sub-benchmark accuracy.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , a new computational setup rooted in quantum-chemical computations of increasing accuracy guided by machine learning tools is proposed to validate a new set of representative amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, cysteine, threonine, aspartic acid and asparagine).
Abstract: The accurate characterization of prototypical bricks of life can strongly benefit from the integration of high resolution spectroscopy and quantum mechanical computations. We have selected a number of representative amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, cysteine, threonine, aspartic acid and asparagine) to validate a new computational setup rooted in quantum-chemical computations of increasing accuracy guided by machine learning tools. Together with low-lying energy minima, the barriers ruling their interconversion are evaluated in order to unravel possible fast relaxation paths. Vibrational and thermal effects are also included in order to estimate relative free energies at the temperature of interest in the experiment. The spectroscopic parameters of all the most stable conformers predicted by this computational strategy, which do not have low-energy relaxation paths available, closely match those of the species detected in microwave experiments. Together with their intrinsic interest, these accurate results represent ideal benchmarks for more approximate methods.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , a model based on density functional theory is proposed to predict rotational constants with an accuracy of 0.3% or better, which can be used to characterize larger flexible building blocks.
Abstract: The interplay of high-resolution rotational spectroscopy and quantum-chemical computations plays an invaluable role in the investigation of biomolecule building blocks in the gas phase. However, quantum-chemical methods suffer from unfavorable scaling with the dimension of the system under consideration. While a complete characterization of flexible systems requires an elaborate multi-step strategy, in this work, we demonstrate that the accuracy obtained by quantum-chemical composite approaches in the prediction of rotational spectroscopy parameters can be approached by a model based on density functional theory. Glycine and serine are employed to demonstrate that, despite its limited cost, such a model is able to predict rotational constants with an accuracy of 0.3% or better, thus paving the way toward the accurate characterization of larger flexible building blocks of biomolecules.
5 citations
References
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TL;DR: This work reports a gradient-corrected exchange-energy functional, containing only one parameter, that fits the exact Hartree-Fock exchange energies of a wide variety of atomic systems with remarkable accuracy, surpassing the performance of previous functionals containing two parameters or more.
Abstract: Current gradient-corrected density-functional approximations for the exchange energies of atomic and molecular systems fail to reproduce the correct 1/r asymptotic behavior of the exchange-energy density. Here we report a gradient-corrected exchange-energy functional with the proper asymptotic limit. Our functional, containing only one parameter, fits the exact Hartree-Fock exchange energies of a wide variety of atomic systems with remarkable accuracy, surpassing the performance of previous functionals containing two parameters or more.
45,683 citations
TL;DR: The revised DFT-D method is proposed as a general tool for the computation of the dispersion energy in molecules and solids of any kind with DFT and related (low-cost) electronic structure methods for large systems.
Abstract: The method of dispersion correction as an add-on to standard Kohn-Sham density functional theory (DFT-D) has been refined regarding higher accuracy, broader range of applicability, and less empiricism. The main new ingredients are atom-pairwise specific dispersion coefficients and cutoff radii that are both computed from first principles. The coefficients for new eighth-order dispersion terms are computed using established recursion relations. System (geometry) dependent information is used for the first time in a DFT-D type approach by employing the new concept of fractional coordination numbers (CN). They are used to interpolate between dispersion coefficients of atoms in different chemical environments. The method only requires adjustment of two global parameters for each density functional, is asymptotically exact for a gas of weakly interacting neutral atoms, and easily allows the computation of atomic forces. Three-body nonadditivity terms are considered. The method has been assessed on standard benchmark sets for inter- and intramolecular noncovalent interactions with a particular emphasis on a consistent description of light and heavy element systems. The mean absolute deviations for the S22 benchmark set of noncovalent interactions for 11 standard density functionals decrease by 15%-40% compared to the previous (already accurate) DFT-D version. Spectacular improvements are found for a tripeptide-folding model and all tested metallic systems. The rectification of the long-range behavior and the use of more accurate C(6) coefficients also lead to a much better description of large (infinite) systems as shown for graphene sheets and the adsorption of benzene on an Ag(111) surface. For graphene it is found that the inclusion of three-body terms substantially (by about 10%) weakens the interlayer binding. We propose the revised DFT-D method as a general tool for the computation of the dispersion energy in molecules and solids of any kind with DFT and related (low-cost) electronic structure methods for large systems.
32,589 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a detailed study of correlation effects in the oxygen atom was conducted, and it was shown that primitive basis sets of primitive Gaussian functions effectively and efficiently describe correlation effects.
Abstract: In the past, basis sets for use in correlated molecular calculations have largely been taken from single configuration calculations. Recently, Almlof, Taylor, and co‐workers have found that basis sets of natural orbitals derived from correlated atomic calculations (ANOs) provide an excellent description of molecular correlation effects. We report here a careful study of correlation effects in the oxygen atom, establishing that compact sets of primitive Gaussian functions effectively and efficiently describe correlation effects i f the exponents of the functions are optimized in atomic correlated calculations, although the primitive (s p) functions for describing correlation effects can be taken from atomic Hartree–Fock calculations i f the appropriate primitive set is used. Test calculations on oxygen‐containing molecules indicate that these primitive basis sets describe molecular correlation effects as well as the ANO sets of Almlof and Taylor. Guided by the calculations on oxygen, basis sets for use in correlated atomic and molecular calculations were developed for all of the first row atoms from boron through neon and for hydrogen. As in the oxygen atom calculations, it was found that the incremental energy lowerings due to the addition of correlating functions fall into distinct groups. This leads to the concept of c o r r e l a t i o n c o n s i s t e n t b a s i s s e t s, i.e., sets which include all functions in a given group as well as all functions in any higher groups. Correlation consistent sets are given for all of the atoms considered. The most accurate sets determined in this way, [5s4p3d2f1g], consistently yield 99% of the correlation energy obtained with the corresponding ANO sets, even though the latter contains 50% more primitive functions and twice as many primitive polarization functions. It is estimated that this set yields 94%–97% of the total (HF+1+2) correlation energy for the atoms neon through boron.
26,705 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a direct difference method for the computation of molecular interactions has been based on a bivariational transcorrelated treatment, together with special methods for the balancing of other errors.
Abstract: A new direct difference method for the computation of molecular interactions has been based on a bivariational transcorrelated treatment, together with special methods for the balancing of other errors. It appears that these new features can give a strong reduction in the error of the interaction energy, and they seem to be particularly suitable for computations in the important region near the minimum energy. It has been generally accepted that this problem is dominated by unresolved difficulties and the relation of the new methods to these apparent difficulties is analysed here.
19,483 citations
TL;DR: It is shown by an extensive benchmark on molecular energy data that the mathematical form of the damping function in DFT‐D methods has only a minor impact on the quality of the results and BJ‐damping seems to provide a physically correct short‐range behavior of correlation/dispersion even with unmodified standard functionals.
Abstract: It is shown by an extensive benchmark on molecular energy data that the mathematical form of the damping function in DFT-D methods has only a minor impact on the quality of the results. For 12 different functionals, a standard "zero-damping" formula and rational damping to finite values for small interatomic distances according to Becke and Johnson (BJ-damping) has been tested. The same (DFT-D3) scheme for the computation of the dispersion coefficients is used. The BJ-damping requires one fit parameter more for each functional (three instead of two) but has the advantage of avoiding repulsive interatomic forces at shorter distances. With BJ-damping better results for nonbonded distances and more clear effects of intramolecular dispersion in four representative molecular structures are found. For the noncovalently-bonded structures in the S22 set, both schemes lead to very similar intermolecular distances. For noncovalent interaction energies BJ-damping performs slightly better but both variants can be recommended in general. The exception to this is Hartree-Fock that can be recommended only in the BJ-variant and which is then close to the accuracy of corrected GGAs for non-covalent interactions. According to the thermodynamic benchmarks BJ-damping is more accurate especially for medium-range electron correlation problems and only small and practically insignificant double-counting effects are observed. It seems to provide a physically correct short-range behavior of correlation/dispersion even with unmodified standard functionals. In any case, the differences between the two methods are much smaller than the overall dispersion effect and often also smaller than the influence of the underlying density functional.
14,151 citations