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ABSTRACT: It is hypothesized that the A ^1B_1 <- X ^1A' excitation into the
dipole-bound state of the cyanomethyl anion (CH2CN-) is proposed as the carrier
for one diffuse interstellar band. However, this particular molecular system
has not been detected in the interstellar medium even though the related
cyanomethyl radical and the isoelectronic ketenimine molecule have been found.
In this study we are employing the use of proven quartic force fields and
second-order vibrational perturbation theory to compute accurate spectroscopic
constants and fundamental vibrational frequencies for ^1A' CH2CN- in order to
assist in laboratory studies and astronomical observations.
05/2013;
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ABSTRACT: The vibrational spectra for the HOCO radical in both of its conformers and deuterated isotopologues is shown here for the first time. Building on previous work with coupled cluster quartic force fields (QFFs) in the computation of the fundamental vibrational frequencies for both cis- and trans--HOCO, coupled cluster dipole surfaces are now provided for both HOCO conformers and their corresponding deuterated isotopologues. These surfaces and subsequent vibrational configuration interaction (VCI) computations produce the intensities of transitions into vibrational states including the fundamentals, overtones, and first few combination bands of less than 4000 cm(-1), slightly beyond the O-H stretch. Simulated spectra with an artificial full-width at half max broadening of 10 cm(-1) are also provided in order to aid in the characterization of HOCO's vibrational frequencies and to assist detection in various laboratory or astronomical observations.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 11/2012; · 2.95 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Building on previous studies involving coupled cluster quartic force fields for the description of spectroscopic constants and vibrational frequencies of astronomically relevant molecules, this work applies the same techniques to the elucidation of such properties for the bent 1 3A0 state of HCN and the isoelectronic 1 3A0 HCO+. Core correlation is treated both explicitly and as a correction. Each approach gives closely comparable spectroscopic constants and vibrational frequencies once more indicating that the composite method is a viable and less costly alternative. We are providing fundamental vibrational frequencies for these systems where agreement with experiment in previous studies has been within 4 cm-1 or better. Frequencies for the first overtones and combination bands as well as various spectroscopic constants are also reported.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 11/2012; · 2.95 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Besides the ν(1) O-H stretching mode at 3435 cm(-1) for HOCS(+), the fundamental vibrational frequencies for this cation and its HSCO(+) isomer have not been determined experimentally. Because these systems are analogues to HOCO(+), a detected interstellar molecule, and are believed to play an important role in reactions of OCS, which has also been detected in the interstellar medium, these cations are of importance to interstellar chemistry and reaction surface studies. This work provides the fundamental vibrational frequencies and spectroscopic constants computed with vibrational perturbation theory (VPT) at second order and the vibrational configuration interaction (VCI) method conjoined with the most accurate quartic force field (QFF) applied to date for these systems. Our computations match experiment to better than 2 cm(-1) for the known O-H stretch. Additionally, there is strong agreement in the prediction of the fundamentals across methods and choices of QFFs. The consistency in the computations and the correspondence for the known mode should give accurate reference data for the rovibrational spectra of these cations and their singly substituted isotopologues for D, (18)O, and (34)S.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 09/2012; 116(38):9582-90. · 2.95 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Only one fundamental vibrational frequency of protonated carbon dioxide (HOCO(+)) has been experimentally observed in the gas phase: the ν(1) O-H stretch. Utilizing quartic force fields defined from CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVXZ (X = T,Q,5) complete basis set limit extrapolated energies modified to include corrections for core correlation and scalar relativistic effects coupled to vibrational perturbation theory and vibrational configuration interaction computations, we are predicting the full set of gas phase fundamental vibrational frequencies of HOCO(+). Our prediction of ν(1) is within less than 1 cm(-1) of the experimental value. Our computations also include predictions of the gas phase fundamental vibrational frequencies of the deuterated form of the cation, DOCO(+). Additionally, other spectroscopic constants for both systems are reported as part of this study, and a search for a cis-HOCO(+) minimum found no such stationary point on the potential surface indicating that only the trans isomer is stable.
The Journal of chemical physics 06/2012; 136(23):234309. · 3.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The impact of orbital localization on the efficiency and accuracy of the optimized-orbital coupled cluster model is examined for the prediction of chiroptical properties, in particular optical rotation. The specific rotations of several test cases-(P)-[4]triangulane, (S)-1-phenylethanol, and chiral conformers of 1-fluoropentane, heptane, and nonane-were computed using an approach in which localization is enforced throughout the orbital optimization and subsequent linear response computation. This method provides a robust local-correlation scheme for future production-level implementation. Although the cross-over point between the canonical and localized coupled cluster approach lies at larger molecules than for ground-state energies, the scheme presented should still provide reduced scaling sufficient to investigate much larger molecules than are presently accessible.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 04/2012; 14(21):7830-6. · 3.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The use of accurate quartic force fields together with vibrational configuration interaction recently predicted gas phase fundamental vibrational frequencies of the trans-HOCO radical to within 4 cm(-1) of experimental results for the two highest frequency modes. Utilizing the same approach, we are providing a full list of fundamental vibrational frequencies and spectroscopic constants for the cis-HOCO system in both radical and anionic forms. Our predicted geometrical parameters of the cis-HOCO radical match experiment and previous computation to better than 1% deviation, and previous theoretical work agrees equally well for the anion. Correspondence between vibrational perturbation theory and variational vibrational configuration interaction for prediction of the frequencies of each mode is strong, better than 5 cm(-1), except for the torsional motion, similar to what has been previously identified in the trans-HOCO radical. Among other considerations, our results are immediately applicable to dissociative photodetachment experiments which initially draw on the cis-HOCO anion since it is the most stable conformer of the anion and is used to gain insight into the portion of the OH + CO potential surface where the HOCO radical is believed to form, and we are also providing highly accurate electron binding energies relevant to these experiments.
The Journal of chemical physics 12/2011; 135(21):214303. · 3.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In the search for a full mechanism creating CO(2) from OH + CO, it has been suggested that creation of the hydroxyformyl or HOCO radical may be a necessary step. This reaction and its transient intermediate may also be responsible for the regeneration of CO(2) in such high quantities in the atmosphere of Mars. Past spectroscopic observations of this radical have been limited and a full gas phase set of the fundamental vibrational frequencies of the HOCO radical has not been reported. Using established, highly accurate quantum chemical coupled cluster techniques and quartic force fields, we are able to compute all six fundamental vibrational frequencies and other spectroscopic constants for trans-HOCO in the gas phase. These methods have yielded rotational constants that are within 0.01 cm(-1) for A(0) and 10(-4) cm(-1) for B(0) and C(0) compared with experiment as well as fundamental vibrational frequencies within 4 cm(-1) of the known gas phase experimental ν(1) and ν(2) modes. Such results lead us to conclude that our prediction of the other four fundamental modes of trans-HOCO are also quite reliable for comparison to future experimental observation, though the discrepancy for the torsional mode may be larger since it is fairly anharmonic. With the upcoming European Space Agency/NASA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, these data may help to establish whether HOCO is present in the Martian sky and what role it may play in the retention of a CO(2)-rich atmosphere. Furthermore, these data may also help to clear up questions built around the fundamental chemical process of how exactly the OH + CO reaction progresses.
The Journal of chemical physics 10/2011; 135(13):134301. · 3.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We present the first calculations of Raman optical activity spectra at the coupled-cluster level of theory. Calculations are presented for (S)-methyloxirane and compared to recent experimental gas-phase measurements as well as the results obtained at the Hartree-Fock and density functional level of theory using the popular B3LYP functional. For the experimentally relevant frequency region of 400-1600 cm(-1), the Hartree-Fock, B3LYP and coupled-cluster spectra are very similar when the same force field is used, and the results also agree well with experiment. For high-frequency vibrational modes, differences in the ROA difference parameters are observed and are analyzed. The new coupled-cluster ROA code will allow for critical benchmarking of the accuracy of modern exchange-correlation functionals in the calculation of ROA spectra.
ChemPhysChem 09/2011; 12(17):3442-8. · 3.41 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Specific rotations for five notoriously difficult molecules, (S)-methyloxirane, (S)-methythiirane, (S)-2-chloropropionitrile, (1S,4S)-norbornenone, and (1R,5R)-β-pinene, have been computed using coupled cluster (CC) and density functional theory (DFT). The performance of the recently developed LPol basis sets compared to the correlation-consistent sets of Dunning and co-workers has been examined at four wavelengths: 355, 436, 589, and 633 nm. We find that the LPol basis sets are an efficient choice, often outperforming the more commonly used correlation-consistent basis sets of comparable size. The smallest of the four, LPol-ds, performs nearly as well as the rest of the series and often yields results closer to the basis set limit than appreciably larger basis sets. While the performance of the LPol bases is admirable, they still do not alleviate the need for high levels of electron correlation, vibrational corrections, and the inclusion of solvent effects to accurately reproduce experimental rotations. In particular in the case of β-pinene we find that they do not produce agreement between DFT and experiment as was previously suggested.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 08/2011; 115(35):10045-51. · 2.95 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: As the number of anions detected in the interstellar medium (ISM) increases, knowledge of their chemical properties is crucial in expanding our understanding of the chemistry of space. In this work we build on a previous study done in our group to examine the excited-state properties of five anions likely to exist in the ISM: SiCCN(-), CSiCN(-), CCSiN(-), SiCN(-), and SiNC(-). Our coupled cluster results indicate that SiCCN(-) and SiNC(-) possess dipole-bound singlet excited states while SiCCN(-) also has one valence state and CCSiN(-) potentially has two. Nearly all of the associated transition energies fall within the visible to near-IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum, making them applicable to the study of phenomena such as the diffuse interstellar bands.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 06/2011; 115(28):8119-24. · 2.95 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Anions that exhibit dipole-bound singlet states have been proposed as a potential class of molecules that may be identified in the interstellar medium. Using high-level coupled cluster theory, we have computed the dipole moments, electron binding energies, and excited states of 14 neutral radicals and their corresponding closed-shell anions. We have calibrated our methods against experimental data for CH(2)CN(-) and CH(2)CHO(-) and demonstrated that coupled cluster theory can closely reproduce experimental dipole moments, electron binding energies, and excitation energies. Using these same methods, we predict the existence of dipole-bound excited states for six of the 14 previously unknown anions, including CH(2)SiN(-), SiH(2)CN(-), CH(2)SiHO(-), SiN(-), CCOH(-), and HCCO(-). In addition, we predict the existence of a valence-bound excited state of CH(2)SiN(-) with an excitation wavelength near 589 nm.
The Journal of chemical physics 04/2011; 134(15):154304. · 3.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We have employed high-level coupled cluster methods including connected triple excitations to study the possibility of symmetry-breaking in the (2)B(2) ground state of the c-C(3)C(2)H radical. Specifically, we find that spin-restricted open-shell Hartree-Fock (ROHF) reference orbitals yield a C(2v) structure, whereas spin-unrestricted Hartree-Fock (UHF) and Brueckner orbitals lead to a symmetry-broken C(s) minimum-energy geometry. Equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles method for ionized states yields a C(s) structure with a double-zeta basis set, but not with a triple-zeta basis set. Through a detailed analysis of the orbital instability/near-instability behavior of each type of Hartree-Fock reference, we have determined that the UHF reference wave function is more reliable than the ROHF reference in this case and that the Born-Oppenheimer potential surface for c-C(3)C(2)H exhibits a symmetry broken C(s) global minimum. This result is supported by excited-state computations, which indicate that a second-order (pseudo) Jahn-Teller interaction is responsible for the symmetry-breaking.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 10/2010; 12(47):15459-67. · 3.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We have investigated 15 excited states of the allyl radical, including the lowest three valence states (two doublets and one quartet) and the n = 3 Ry series, using coupled cluster methods that approximate the correlation effects of connected triple excitations. The quality of the excitation energies is measured on the basis of comparison to existing theoretical and experimental data, as well as on the basis of three diagnostics related to spin contamination and the overall level of excitation of a given state. Basis-set effects are significant for states exhibiting substantial Rydberg character, and the use of molecule-centered diffuse functions appears to provide an accurate description of such states, while avoiding the computational expense of basis sets in which diffuse functions are added to every atom in the molecule. In contrast to earlier observations for linear carbon-chain radicals, coupled cluster methods compare well to both theoretical predictions and experimental band origins, where discrepancies in the latter are sometimes attributable to structural relaxation in the excited state. One of the three lowest (2)B(1) excited states exhibits a twisting of the terminal methylene groups to yield a C(2)-symmetry minimum. The most challenging states for coupled cluster methods are of A(2) symmetry, where both spin contamination and basis-set effects are appreciable.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 08/2010; 114(33):8852-7. · 2.95 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The ability of coupled-cluster models to predict vertical excitation energies is tested on the electronic states of carbon-chain radicals of particular relevance to interstellar chemistry. Using spin-unrestricted and -restricted reference wave functions, the coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) model and a triples-including model (CC3) are tested on the sigma radicals C(2)H and C(4)H. Both molecules exhibit low-lying excited states with significant double-excitation character (as well as states of quartet multiplicity) and are thus challenging cases for excited-state approaches. In addition, we employ two diagnostics for the reliability of the CC results: the approximate excitation level (AEL) relative to the ground state and the difference between excitation energies obtained with spin-unrestricted and spin-restricted reference wave functions (the U-R difference). We find that CCSD yields poor excitation energies for states with AEL significantly larger than ca. 1.1 and/or large U-R differences, as well as for certain states exhibiting large spin contamination or other inadequacies in the reference determinant. In such cases, connected triple excitations can be included in the model and generally provide improved results. Furthermore, we find that large discrepancies exist between CC and multireference (MR) results for certain states. These disagreements are not related to basis-set effects, but likely arise from the lack of spin adaptation in conventional spin-orbital CC implementations and active space selection in the MR models.
The Journal of chemical physics 04/2010; 132(14):144303. · 3.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Molecular vibrations can have a significant influence on gas phase specific optical rotations. Mainly due to the large number of nuclear degrees of freedom in most chiral molecules, theoretical predictions of vibrational corrections quickly become prohibitively expensive. Here, we investigate an approach in which the purely electronic contribution is calculated at the coupled cluster singles and doubles level, while the zero-point vibrational correction is computed using the less demanding density functional theory (B3LYP functional). By comparing to experimental gas phase results for seven molecules and two wavelengths, we find that the mixed coupled cluster/B3LYP approach performs significantly better than pure B3LYP predictions. In fact, we find that it is more important to use high-level electron correlation for the electronic contribution than to include zero-point vibrational corrections.
Chirality 10/2009; 21 Suppl 1:E68-75. · 2.35 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The simple Boltzmann averaging procedure that is commonly used for computing chiroptical properties of conformationally flexible molecules has been tested against a more rigorous approach involving explicitly computed vibrational wave functions for large-amplitude motion. A one-dimensional, carbon-backbone torsional potential function of the paradigmatic chiral molecule (R)-3-chloro-1-butene was constructed by mapping out the intrinsic reaction coordinate connecting the three relevant transition states and minimum-energy structures. The corresponding one-dimensional vibrational Schroinger equation was solved using both numerical and algebraic methods to obtain torsional vibrational wave functions, over which averaged coupled-cluster and density-functional specific rotations were computed. The rigorous vibrational Boltzmann approach was then compared systematically with the simpler method based solely on the relative energies of the zero-point vibrational levels of each conformer. By analysis of scaled torsional potentials, the limits of the simple Boltzmann method were probed in terms of the temperature and the barrier heights separating the relevant conformers, revealing a surprising resilience of this scheme. Large deviations between the two averaging methods were observed only after the conformer barriers fell to well under 500 cm À1 . Even for temperatures approaching 1000 K, deviations between the two averaging models are small (less than 10%) for this test case. However, direct analysis of the approximations underlying the simple Boltzmann approach reveals that its success is greatly aided by a favorable cancellation of errors.
Molecular Physics 05/2009; 107:1041-1057. · 1.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The specific optical rotation of (S)-fluoro-oxirane in gas phase and solution is predicted using time-dependent density functional theory (B3LYP functional) and coupled cluster linear response theory. Upon vibrational averaging, the coupled cluster singles and doubles model predicts the gas phase specific optical rotation to be 8.1 degrees (dm g/cm(3))(-1) at 355 nm at room temperature. This is an order of magnitude smaller than the B3LYP result of 68.4 degrees (dm g/cm(3))(-1). The main source of this discrepancy is the electronic contribution at the equilibrium geometry. The effects of cyclohexane and acetonitrile solvents are calculated for both the electronic and vibrational contributions with the B3LYP functional. The specific optical rotation is estimated to change significantly depending on the polarity of the solvent, increasing in cyclohexane and decreasing in acetonitrile.
The Journal of chemical physics 02/2009; 130(3):034310. · 3.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Additional members of the family of high- T c molecule-based magnets, V[acceptor] 2. yCH 2Cl 2 have been discovered in which the acceptor is a fluorophenyltricyanoethylene. Varying the number and position of the fluorine substitutions around the phenyl ring results in materials with significantly different magnetic ordering temperatures ( T c's) ranging from 160 to 300 K. Density functional theory calculations were performed on the neutral and anionic forms of the acceptors that reveal modest correlation between T c and three calculated quantities: the gas-phase electron affinity, the dihedral angle between the phenyl ring and the olefin, and the Mulliken spin densities on the nitrogen atoms. The electrochemistry of the acceptors has also been examined.
Inorganic Chemistry 08/2008; 47(13):5649-55. · 4.60 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: An approach is described for selecting local-correlation orbital domains appropriate for computing response properties such as optical rotation using frequency-dependent coupled-cluster linear-response theory. This scheme is an extension of our earlier idea [N. J. Russ and T. D. Crawford, Chem. Phys. Lett., 2004, 400, 104] based on an atom-by-atom decomposition of the coupled-perturbed Hartree-Fock (CPHF) response of the component molecular orbitals to external electric and magnetic fields. We have applied this domain-selection scheme to a series of chiral molecules, including pseudo-linear structures (hydrogen molecule helices, fluoroalkanes, and [n]triangulanes), cage-like structures (beta-pinene, methylnorbornanone, and bisnoradamantan-2-one), and aromatic rings (1-phenylethanol). We find that the crossover points between the canonical- and local-correlation approaches are larger than for the conventional Boughton-Pulay domain scheme, in agreement with our earlier analysis of dipole-polarizabilities. Localization errors are reasonably small (a few percent) for pseudo-linear structures with domain sizes of approximately six to eight atoms. Cage-like molecules are significantly more problematic, requiring natural domain sizes of ten or more to obtain the most reliable localization errors.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 07/2008; 10(23):3345-52. · 3.57 Impact Factor
