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An ab initio based full-dimensional potential energy surface for OH + O 2 ⮂ HO 3 and low-lying vibrational levels of HO 3

To offer an in-depth understanding of the HO 3 radical and its dissociation to OH + O 2 , a six-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) has been constructed by fitting 2087 energy points for the electronic ground state of HO 3 (X 2 A") using the permutation invariant polynomial-neural network (PIP-NN) approach. The energy points were calculated using an explicitly-correlated and Davidson-corrected multi-reference configuration interaction approach with the correlation-consistent polarized valence double zeta basis (MRCI( Q )-F12/VDZ-F12). On the PES, the trans -HO 3 isomer is found to be the global minimum, 33.0 cm -1 below the cis -HO 3 conformer, which is consistent with previous high-level theoretical investigations. The dissociation to the OH + O 2 asymptote from both conformers is shown to be barrierless. As a benchmark from a recently developed high-accuracy thermochemistry protocol, D 0 for trans -HO 3 is calculated to be 2.29 ± 0.36 kcal mol -1 , only slightly deeper than the value of 2.08 kcal mol -1 obtained using the PES, and in reasonable agreement with the experimentally estimated value of 2.93 ± 0.07 kcal mol -1 . Using this PES, low-lying vibrational energy levels of HO 3 are determined using an exact quantum Hamiltonian and compared with available experimental results.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Low-dimensional perovskite nanoplatelet synthesis using in situ photophysical monitoring to establish controlled growth

Perovskite nanoparticles have attracted the attention of research groups around the world for their impressive photophysical properties, facile synthesis and versatile surface chemistry. Here, we report a synthetic route that takes advantage of a suite of soluble precursors to generate CsPbBr 3 perovskite nanoplatelets with fine control over size, thickness and optical properties. We demonstrate near unit cell precision, creating well characterized materials with sharp, narrow emission lines at 430, 460 and 490 nm corresponding to nanoplatelets that are 2, 4, and 6 unit cells thick, respectively. Nanoplatelets were characterized with optical spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to explicitly correlate growth conditions, thickness and resulting photophysical properties. Detailed in situ photoluminescence spectroscopic studies were carried out to understand and optimize particle growth by correlating light emission with nanoplatelet growth across a range of synthetic conditions. It was found that nanoplatelet thickness and emission wavelength increase as the ratio of oleic acid to oleyl amine or the reaction temperature is increased. Using this information, we control the lateral size, width and corresponding emission wavelength of the desired nanoplatelets by modulating the temperature and ratios of the ligand.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Theoretical study of the CO 2 –O 2 van der Waals complex: potential energy surface and applications

A four-dimensional-potential energy surface (4D-PES) of the atmospherically relevant carbon dioxide–oxygen molecule (CO 2 –O 2 ) van der Waals complex is mapped using the ab initio explicitly correlated coupled cluster method with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations (UCCSD(T)-F12b), and extrapolation to the complete basis set (CBS) limit using the cc-pVTZ-F12/cc-pVQZ-F12 bases and the l –3 formula. An analytic representation of the 4D-PES was fitted using the method of interpolating moving least squares (IMLS). These calculations predict that the most stable configuration of CO 2 –O 2 complex corresponds to a planar slipped-parallel structure with a binding energy of V ~ –243 cm –1 . Another isomer is found on the PES, corresponding to a non-planar cross-shaped structure, with V ~ –218 cm –1 . The transition structure connecting the two minima is found at V ~ –211 cm –1 . We also performed comparisons with some CO 2 –X van der Waals complexes. Moreover, we provide a SAPT analysis of this molecular system. Then, we discuss the complexation induced shifts of CO 2 and O 2 . Afterwards, this new 4D-PES is employed to compute the second virial coefficient including temperature dependence. A comparison between quantities obtained in our calculations and those from experiments found close agreement attesting to the high quality of the PES and to the importance of considering a full description of the anisotropic potential for the derivation of thermophysical properties of CO 2 –O 2 mixtures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

O{sub 2}(a{sup 1}{Delta}{sub g}) + Mg, Fe, and Ca: Experimental kinetics and formulation of a weak collision, multiwell master equation with spin-hopping

The first excited electronic state of molecular oxygen, O{sub 2}(a{sup 1}{Delta}{sub g}), is formed in the upper atmosphere by the photolysis of O{sub 3}. Its lifetime is over 70 min above 75 km, so that during the day its concentration is about 30 times greater than that of O{sub 3}. In order to explore its potential reactivity with atmospheric constituents produced by meteoric ablation, the reactions of Mg, Fe, and Ca with O{sub 2}(a) were studied in a fast flow tube, where the metal atoms were produced either by thermal evaporation (Ca and Mg) or by pulsed laser ablation of a metal target (Fe), and detected by laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy. O{sub 2}(a) was produced by bubbling a flow of Cl{sub 2} through chilled alkaline H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, and its absolute concentration determined from its optical emission at 1270 nm (O{sub 2}(a{sup 1}{Delta}{sub g}- X{sup 3}{Sigma}{sub g}{sup -}). The following results were obtained at 296 K: k(Mg + O{sub 2}(a) + N{sub 2}{yields} MgO{sub 2}+ N{sub 2}) = (1.8 {+-} 0.2) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -30} cm{sup 6} molecule{sup -2} s{sup -1}; k(Fe + O{sub 2}(a) {yields} FeO + O) = (1.1 {+-} 0.1) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -13} cm{sup 3} molecule{sup -1} s{sup -1}; k(Ca + O{sub 2}(a) + N{sub 2}{yields} CaO{sub 2}+ N{sub 2}) = (2.9 {+-} 0.2) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -28} cm{sup 6} molecule{sup -2} s{sup -1}; and k(Ca + O{sub 2}(a) {yields} CaO + O) = (2.7 {+-} 1.0) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -12} cm{sup 3} molecule{sup -1} s{sup -1}. The total uncertainty in these rate coefficients, which mostly arises from the systematic uncertainty in the O{sub 2}(a) concentration, is estimated to be {+-}40%. Mg + O{sub 2}(a) occurs exclusively by association on the singlet surface, producing MgO{sub 2}({sup 1}A{sub 1}), with a pressure dependent rate coefficient. Fe + O{sub 2}(a), on the other hand, shows pressure independent kinetics. FeO + O is produced with a probability of only {approx}0.1%. There is no evidence for an association complex, suggesting that this reaction proceeds mostly by near-resonant electronic energy transfer to Fe(a{sup 5}F) + O{sub 2}(X). The reaction of Ca + O{sub 2}(a) occurs in an intermediate regime with two competing pressure dependent channels: (1) a recombination to produce CaO{sub 2}({sup 1}A{sub 1}), and (2) a singlet/triplet non-adiabatic hopping channel leading to CaO + O({sup 3}P). In order to interpret the Ca + O{sub 2}(a) results, we utilized density functional theory along with multireference and explicitly correlated CCSD(T)-F12 electronic structure calculations to examine the lowest lying singlet and triplet surfaces. In addition to mapping stationary points, we used a genetic algorithm to locate minimum energy crossing points between the two surfaces. Simulations of the Ca + O{sub 2}(a) kinetics were then carried out using a combination of both standard and non-adiabatic Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory implemented within a weak collision, multiwell master equation model. In terms of atmospheric significance, only in the case of Ca does reaction with O{sub 2}(a) compete with O{sub 3} during the daytime between 85 and 110 km.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ab initio structural and spectroscopic study of HPS{sup x} and HSP{sup x} (x = 0,+1,−1) in the gas phase

Accurate ab initio computations of structural and spectroscopic parameters for the HPS/HSP molecules and corresponding cations and anions have been performed. For the electronic structure computations, standard and explicitly correlated coupled cluster techniques in conjunction with large basis sets have been adopted. In particular, we present equilibrium geometries, rotational constants, harmonic vibrational frequencies, adiabatic ionization energies, electron affinities, and, for the neutral species, singlet-triplet relative energies. Besides, the full-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs) for HPS{sup x} and HSP{sup x} (x = −1,0,1) systems have been generated at the standard coupled cluster level with a basis set of augmented quintuple-zeta quality. By applying perturbation theory to the calculated PESs, an extended set of spectroscopic constants, including τ, first-order centrifugal distortion and anharmonic vibrational constants has been obtained. In addition, the potentials have been used in a variational approach to deduce the whole pattern of vibrational levels up to 4000 cm{sup −1} above the minima of the corresponding PESs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A new ab initio potential energy surface for the collisional excitation of HCN by para- and ortho-H{sub 2}

We present a new four-dimensional potential energy surface for the collisional excitation of HCN by H{sub 2}. Ab initio calculations of the HCN–H{sub 2} van der Waals complex, considering both molecules as rigid rotors, were carried out at the explicitly correlated coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)-F12a] level of theory using an augmented correlation-consistent triple zeta (aVTZ) basis set. The equilibrium structure is linear HCN–H{sub 2} with the nitrogen pointing towards H{sub 2} at an intermolecular separation of 7.20 a{sub 0}. The corresponding well depth is −195.20 cm{sup −1}. A secondary minimum of −183.59 cm{sup −1} was found for a T-shape configuration with the H of HCN pointing to the center of mass of H{sub 2}. We also determine the rovibrational energy levels of the HCN–para-H{sub 2} and HCN–ortho-H{sub 2} complexes. The calculated dissociation energies for the para and ortho complexes are 37.79 cm{sup −1} and 60.26 cm{sup −1}, respectively. The calculated ro-vibrational transitions in the HCN–H{sub 2} complex are found to agree by more than 0.5% with the available experimental data, confirming the accuracy of the potential energy surface.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Communication: An accurate global potential energy surface for the ground electronic state of ozone

We report a new full-dimensional and global potential energy surface (PES) for the O + O{sub 2} → O{sub 3} ozone forming reaction based on explicitly correlated multireference configuration interaction (MRCI-F12) data. It extends our previous [R. Dawes, P. Lolur, J. Ma, and H. Guo, J. Chem. Phys. 135, 081102 (2011)] dynamically weighted multistate MRCI calculations of the asymptotic region which showed the widely found submerged reef along the minimum energy path to be the spurious result of an avoided crossing with an excited state. A spin-orbit correction was added and the PES tends asymptotically to the recently developed long-range electrostatic model of Lepers et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 137, 234305 (2012)]. This PES features: (1) excellent equilibrium structural parameters, (2) good agreement with experimental vibrational levels, (3) accurate dissociation energy, and (4) most-notably, a transition region without a spurious reef. The new PES is expected to allow insight into the still unresolved issues surrounding the kinetics, dynamics, and isotope signature of ozone.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Simulation of the single-vibronic-level emission spectrum of HPS

We have computed the potential energy surfaces of the X{sup ~1}A{sup ′} and A{sup ~1}A{sup ′′} states of HPS using the explicitly correlated multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI-F12) method, and Franck–Condon factors between the two states, which include anharmonicity and Duschinsky rotation, with the aim of testing the assignment of the recently reported single-vibronic-level (SVL) emission spectrum of HPS [R. Grimminger, D. J. Clouthier, R. Tarroni, Z. Wang, and T. J. Sears, J. Chem. Phys. 139, 174306 (2013)]. These are the highest level calculations on these states yet reported. It is concluded that our spectral simulation supports the assignments of the molecular carrier, the electronic states involved and the vibrational structure of the experimental laser induced fluorescence, and SVL emission spectra proposed by Grimminger et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 139, 174306 (2013)]. However, there remain questions unanswered regarding the relative electronic energies of the two states and the geometry of the excited state of HPS.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Theoretical spectroscopic investigations of HNS{sup q} and HSN{sup q} (q = 0, +1, −1) in the gas phase

We performed accurate ab initio investigations of the geometric parameters and the vibrational structure of neutral HNS/HSN triatomics and their singly charged anions and cations. We used standard and explicitly correlated coupled cluster approaches in connection with large basis sets. At the highest levels of description, we show that results nicely approach those obtained at the complete basis set limit. Moreover, we generated the three-dimensional potential energy surfaces (3D PESs) for these molecular entities at the coupled cluster level with singles and doubles and a perturbative treatment of triple excitations, along with a basis set of augmented quintuple-zeta quality (aug-cc-pV5Z). A full set of spectroscopic constants are deduced from these potentials by applying perturbation theory. In addition, these 3D PESs are incorporated into variational treatment of the nuclear motions. The pattern of the lowest vibrational levels and corresponding wavefunctions, up to around 4000 cm{sup −1} above the corresponding potential energy minimum, is presented for the first time.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Benchmark calculations on the lowest-energy singlet, triplet, and quintet states of the four-electron harmonium atom

For a wide range of confinement strengths ω, explicitly-correlated calculations afford approximate energies E(ω) of the ground and low-lying excited states of the four-electron harmonium atom that are within few μhartree of the exact values, the errors in the respective energy components being only slightly higher. This level of accuracy constitutes an improvement of several orders of magnitude over the previously published data, establishing a set of benchmarks for stringent calibration and testing of approximate electronic structure methods. Its usefulness is further enhanced by the construction of differentiable approximants that allow for accurate computation of E(ω) and its components for arbitrary values of ω. The diversity of the electronic states in question, which involve both single- and multideterminantal first-order wavefunctions, and the availability of the relevant natural spinorbitals and their occupation numbers make the present results particularly useful in research on approximate density-matrix functionals. The four-electron harmonium atom is found to possess the {sup 3}P{sub +} triplet ground state at strong confinements and the {sup 5}S{sub −} quintet ground state at the weak ones, the energy crossing occurring at ω ≈ 0.0240919.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Calculation of positron binding energies using the generalized any particle propagator theory

We recently extended the electron propagator theory to any type of quantum species based in the framework of the Any-Particle Molecular Orbital (APMO) approach [J. Romero, E. Posada, R. Flores-Moreno, and A. Reyes, J. Chem. Phys. 137, 074105 (2012)]. The generalized any particle molecular orbital propagator theory (APMO/PT) was implemented in its quasiparticle second order version in the LOWDIN code and was applied to calculate nuclear quantum effects in electron binding energies and proton binding energies in molecular systems [M. Díaz-Tinoco, J. Romero, J. V. Ortiz, A. Reyes, and R. Flores-Moreno, J. Chem. Phys. 138, 194108 (2013)]. In this work, we present the derivation of third order quasiparticle APMO/PT methods and we apply them to calculate positron binding energies (PBEs) of atoms and molecules. We calculated the PBEs of anions and some diatomic molecules using the second order, third order, and renormalized third order quasiparticle APMO/PT approaches and compared our results with those previously calculated employing configuration interaction (CI), explicitly correlated and quantum Montecarlo methodologies. We found that renormalized APMO/PT methods can achieve accuracies of ∼0.35 eV for anionic systems, compared to Full-CI results, and provide a quantitative description of positron binding to anionic and highly polar species. Third order APMO/PT approaches display considerable potential to study positron binding to large molecules because of the fifth power scaling with respect to the number of basis sets. In this regard, we present additional PBE calculations of some small polar organic molecules, amino acids and DNA nucleobases. We complement our numerical assessment with formal and numerical analyses of the treatment of electron-positron correlation within the quasiparticle propagator approach.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

VUV photoionization and dissociative photoionization of the prebiotic molecule acetyl cyanide: Theory and experiment

The present combined theoretical and experimental investigation concerns the single photoionization of gas-phase acetyl cyanide and the fragmentation pathways of the resulting cation. Acetyl cyanide (AC) is inspired from both the chemistry of cyanoacetylene and the Strecker reaction which are thought to be at the origin of medium sized prebiotic molecules in the interstellar medium. AC can be formed by reaction from cyanoacetylene and water but also from acetaldehyde and HCN or the corresponding radicals. In view of the interpretation of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) experimental data obtained using synchrotron radiation, we explored the ground potential energy surface (PES) of acetyl cyanide and of its cation using standard and recently implemented explicitly correlated methodologies. Our PES covers the regions of tautomerism (between keto and enol forms) and of the lowest fragmentation channels. This allowed us to deduce accurate thermochemical data for this astrobiologically relevant molecule. Unimolecular decomposition of the AC cation turns out to be very complex. The implications for the evolution of prebiotic molecules under VUV irradiation are discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A compact and accurate semi-global potential energy surface for malonaldehyde from constrained least squares regression

We present a new approach to semi-global potential energy surface fitting that uses the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) constrained least squares procedure to exploit an extremely flexible form for the potential function, while at the same time controlling the risk of overfitting and avoiding the introduction of unphysical features such as divergences or high-frequency oscillations. Drawing from a massively redundant set of overlapping distributed multi-dimensional Gaussian functions of inter-atomic separations we build a compact full-dimensional surface for malonaldehyde, fit to explicitly correlated coupled cluster CCSD(T)(F12*) energies with a root mean square deviations accuracy of 0.3%–0.5% up to 25 000 cm{sup −1} above equilibrium. Importance-sampled diffusion Monte Carlo calculations predict zero point energies for malonaldehyde and its deuterated isotopologue of 14 715.4(2) and 13 997.9(2) cm{sup −1} and hydrogen transfer tunnelling splittings of 21.0(4) and 3.2(4) cm{sup −1}, respectively, which are in excellent agreement with the experimental values of 21.583 and 2.915(4) cm{sup −1}.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Potential energy surface of the CO{sub 2}–N{sub 2} van der Waals complex

Four-dimensional potential energy surface (4D-PES) of the atmospherically relevant CO{sub 2}–N{sub 2} van der Waals complex is generated using the explicitly correlated coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitation (CCSD(T)-F12) method in conjunction with the augmented correlation consistent triple zeta (aug-cc-pVTZ) basis set. This 4D-PES is mapped along the intermonomer coordinates. An analytic fit of this 4D-PES is performed. Our extensive computations confirm that the most stable form corresponds to a T-shape structure where the nitrogen molecule points towards the carbon atom of CO{sub 2}. In addition, we located a second isomer and two transition states in the ground state PES of CO{sub 2}–N{sub 2}. All of them lay below the CO{sub 2} + N{sub 2} dissociation limit. This 4D-PES is flat and strongly anisotropic along the intermonomer coordinates. This results in the possibility of the occurrence of large amplitude motions within the complex, such as the inversion of N{sub 2}, as suggested in the recent spectroscopic experiments. Finally, we show that the experimentally established deviations from the C{sub 2v} structure at equilibrium for the most stable isomer are due to the zero-point out-of-plane vibration correction.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Semi-stochastic full configuration interaction quantum Monte Carlo: Developments and application

We expand upon the recent semi-stochastic adaptation to full configuration interaction quantum Monte Carlo (FCIQMC). We present an alternate method for generating the deterministic space without a priori knowledge of the wave function and present stochastic efficiencies for a variety of both molecular and lattice systems. The algorithmic details of an efficient semi-stochastic implementation are presented, with particular consideration given to the effect that the adaptation has on parallel performance in FCIQMC. We further demonstrate the benefit for calculation of reduced density matrices in FCIQMC through replica sampling, where the semi-stochastic adaptation seems to have even larger efficiency gains. We then combine these ideas to produce explicitly correlated corrected FCIQMC energies for the beryllium dimer, for which stochastic errors on the order of wavenumber accuracy are achievable.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Accurate ab initio potential energy surface, thermochemistry, and dynamics of the F{sup −} + CH{sub 3}F S{sub N}2 and proton-abstraction reactions

We develop a full-dimensional global analytical potential energy surface (PES) for the F{sup −} + CH{sub 3}F reaction by fitting about 50 000 energy points obtained by an explicitly correlated composite method based on the second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation-F12 and coupled-cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triples-F12a methods and the cc-pVnZ-F12 [n = D, T] basis sets. The PES accurately describes the (a) back-side attack Walden inversion mechanism involving the pre- and post-reaction (b) ion-dipole and (c) hydrogen-bonded complexes, the configuration-retaining (d) front-side attack and (e) double-inversion substitution pathways, as well as (f) the proton-abstraction channel. The benchmark quality relative energies of all the important stationary points are computed using the focal-point analysis (FPA) approach considering electron correlation up to coupled-cluster singles, doubles, triples, and perturbative quadruples method, extrapolation to the complete basis set limit, core-valence correlation, and scalar relativistic effects. The FPA classical(adiabatic) barrier heights of (a), (d), and (e) are −0.45(−0.61), 46.07(45.16), and 29.18(26.07) kcal mol{sup −1}, respectively, the dissociation energies of (b) and (c) are 13.81(13.56) and 13.73(13.52) kcal mol{sup −1}, respectively, and the endothermicity of (f) is 42.54(38.11) kcal mol{sup −1}. Quasiclassical trajectory computations of cross sections, scattering (θ) and initial attack (α) angle distributions, as well as translational and internal energy distributions are performed for the F{sup −} + CH{sub 3}F(v = 0) reaction using the new PES. Apart from low collision energies (E{sub coll}), the S{sub N}2 excitation function is nearly constant, the abstraction cross sections rapidly increase with E{sub coll} from a threshold of ∼40 kcal mol{sup −1}, and retention trajectories via double inversion are found above E{sub coll} = ∼ 30 kcal mol{sup −1}, and at E{sub coll} = ∼ 50 kcal mol{sup −1}, the front-side attack cross sections start to increase very rapidly. At low E{sub coll}, the indirect mechanism dominates (mainly isotropic backward-forward symmetric θ distribution and translationally cold products) and significant long-range orientation effects (isotropic α distribution) and barrier recrossings are found. At higher E{sub coll}, the S{sub N}2 reaction mainly proceeds with direct rebound mechanism (backward scattering and hot product translation)

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Accurate ab initio vibrational energies of methyl chloride

Two new nine-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs) have been generated using high-level ab initio theory for the two main isotopologues of methyl chloride, CH{sub 3}{sup 35}Cl and CH{sub 3}{sup 37}Cl. The respective PESs, CBS-35{sup HL}, and CBS-37{sup HL}, are based on explicitly correlated coupled cluster calculations with extrapolation to the complete basis set (CBS) limit, and incorporate a range of higher-level (HL) additive energy corrections to account for core-valence electron correlation, higher-order coupled cluster terms, scalar relativistic effects, and diagonal Born-Oppenheimer corrections. Variational calculations of the vibrational energy levels were performed using the computer program TROVE, whose functionality has been extended to handle molecules of the form XY {sub 3}Z. Fully converged energies were obtained by means of a complete vibrational basis set extrapolation. The CBS-35{sup HL} and CBS-37{sup HL} PESs reproduce the fundamental term values with root-mean-square errors of 0.75 and 1.00 cm{sup −1}, respectively. An analysis of the combined effect of the HL corrections and CBS extrapolation on the vibrational wavenumbers indicates that both are needed to compute accurate theoretical results for methyl chloride. We believe that it would be extremely challenging to go beyond the accuracy currently achieved for CH{sub 3}Cl without empirical refinement of the respective PESs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Non-equilibrium reaction and relaxation dynamics in a strongly interacting explicit solvent: F + CD{sub 3}CN treated with a parallel multi-state EVB model

We describe a parallelized linear-scaling computational framework developed to implement arbitrarily large multi-state empirical valence bond (MS-EVB) calculations within CHARMM and TINKER. Forces are obtained using the Hellmann-Feynman relationship, giving continuous gradients, and good energy conservation. Utilizing multi-dimensional Gaussian coupling elements fit to explicitly correlated coupled cluster theory, we built a 64-state MS-EVB model designed to study the F + CD{sub 3}CN → DF + CD{sub 2}CN reaction in CD{sub 3}CN solvent (recently reported in Dunning et al. [Science 347(6221), 530 (2015)]). This approach allows us to build a reactive potential energy surface whose balanced accuracy and efficiency considerably surpass what we could achieve otherwise. We ran molecular dynamics simulations to examine a range of observables which follow in the wake of the reactive event: energy deposition in the nascent reaction products, vibrational relaxation rates of excited DF in CD{sub 3}CN solvent, equilibrium power spectra of DF in CD{sub 3}CN, and time dependent spectral shifts associated with relaxation of the nascent DF. Many of our results are in good agreement with time-resolved experimental observations, providing evidence for the accuracy of our MS-EVB framework in treating both the solute and solute/solvent interactions. The simulations provide additional insight into the dynamics at sub-picosecond time scales that are difficult to resolve experimentally. In particular, the simulations show that (immediately following deuterium abstraction) the nascent DF finds itself in a non-equilibrium regime in two different respects: (1) it is highly vibrationally excited, with ∼23 kcal mol{sup −1} localized in the stretch and (2) its post-reaction solvation environment, in which it is not yet hydrogen-bonded to CD{sub 3}CN solvent molecules, is intermediate between the non-interacting gas-phase limit and the solution-phase equilibrium limit. Vibrational relaxation of the nascent DF results in a spectral blue shift, while relaxation of the post-reaction solvation environment results in a red shift. These two competing effects mean that the post-reaction relaxation profile is distinct from what is observed when Franck-Condon vibrational excitation of DF occurs within a microsolvation environment initially at equilibrium. Our conclusions, along with the theoretical and parallel software framework presented in this paper, should be more broadly applicable to a range of complex reactive systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗