CCSD, density functional theory

One of the simplest chemical reactions involving a barrier, H2 + H —> [H—H—H] —> II + H2, has been investigated in some detail in a number of publications. The theoretical description of this hydrogen abstraction sequence turns out to be quite involved for post-Hartree-Fock methods and is anything but a trivial task for density functional theory approaches. Table 13-7 shows results reported by Johnson et al., 1994, and Csonka and Johnson, 1998, for computed classical barrier heights (without consideration of zero-point vibrational corrections or tunneling effects) obtained with various methods. The CCSD(T) result of 9.9 kcal/mol is probably very accurate and serves as a reference (the experimental barrier, which of course includes zero-point energy contributions, amounts to 9.7 kcal/mol). 

Notes CCSD(T) coupled cluster method. BLYP, B3LYP, mPWPW91, and TPSS Various density functional theory-based methods. 

The vibrational spectrum of 13 is nicely reproduced by quantum chemical calculations at the CCSD(T) level of theory," whereas density functional theory (DFT) shows a variable performance for 13 depending on the functional employed." This caution holds especially for the distance between the radical... 

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