Density functional calibration for indirect spin-spin coupling constant calculations

Author(s)

Luiz Felipe Guain Teixeira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2019-01-24

Examining board members

Lucas Colucci Ducati; Rogério Custódio; Fabricio Ronil Sensato

• Advisor: Lucas Colucci Ducati

Abstract

This work seeks to describe the investigation of density functionals for calculating indirect spin-spin scalar coupling constants for different types of atoms. 26 DFTs are initially evaluated for a calibration set containing HF, CO, H2O, NH3, PH3, PF3, BHF2, BF3, F2O, CH4, C2H2, C2H4 and C2H6 indirect spin-spin coupling constants. The strategies used mainly involve adjusting the percentage of Hartree-Fock orbital exchange (EXHF) in order to increase accuracy. Previous studies have suggested that the use of a certain percentage of exact exchange contributes to obtain more accurate results for coupling constants. Overall, BHandH, B1B95, B97 family and ωB97 family have provided good results for the calibration set. In general, hybrid DFTs containing between 30% and 50% EXHF in their composition show more accurate values for the coupling constants. The modified functionals B1B95 40% EXHF, BHandH 40% EXHF and B972B95 60% EXHF have optimal accuracy for geometry optimization and coupling constant calculation routines. For long-range corrected functionals, EXHF percentage is not well defined but can be adjusted in terms of three parameters. A version of ωB97XD with γ increased to 0.35 has great accuracy, as well as a version of ωB97X with α increased to 0.2. Long-range corrected versions of B1B95 and BHandH provided excellent accuracies with α =0.4, α + β =1.0 and γ adjusted to the functional. Long-range functionals and B972B95 60% EXHF challenge SOPPA(CCSD) and SOPPA(CC2) levels of theory, which have good accuracy regardless of the core type involved in the coupling. Fermi-contact term is mainly associated with the differences from results of calculated coupling constants between methods. According to Janaks theorem, long-range functionals are closest to the exact behavior of a functional; increasing exact exchange in hybrid DFTs leads to an increased electronic localization, leading to lower concavities. Using a test set with more coupling types reinforces the optimum accuracy obtained with B1B95 40% EXHF, BHandH 40% EXHF and their long-range versions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/19365-7 - Density functionals calibration for indirect spin-spin coupling constant calculations
• Grantee: Luiz Felipe Guain Teixeira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master