Multireference perturbation methods

Our multireference M0Uer-Plesset (MRMP) perturbation method [1-4] and MC-QDPT quasi-degenerate perturbation theory (QDPT) with multiconfiguration self-consistent field reference functions (MC-QDPT) [5,6] are perturbation methods of such a type. Using these perturbation methods, we have clarified electronic stmctures of various systems and demonstrated that they are powerful tools for investigating excitation spectra and potential energy surfaces of chemical reactions [7-10]. In the present section, we review these multireference perturbation methods as well as a method for interpreting the electronic structure in terms of valence-bond resonance structure based on the CASSCF wavefunction. 

Of course, a proper treatment would utilize multireference methods, but these are very time consuming and limited to model stmctures only [36, 88). Furthermore, dynamic electron correlation is also very important in these reactions so that, for instance, simple CASSCF (complete active space SCF) computations are meaningless, as they mostly include static correlation. Perturbative corrections to CASSCF wavefunctions such as CASPT2 (CAS perturbation theory of second order) are necessary however, multireference perturbation methods do not improve significantly the singlet-triplet energy separations of many biradicals as compared to CASSCF results [89]. 

Multireference perturbation methods (MRPT) have been developed and studied by a number of research groups, for example those of Pulay, " Roos, and Messmer. Highly... 

One area in which Cl methods appear to be thoroughly superior to perturbation theory is in the treatment of multireference problems problems with substantial nondynamical correlation effects. Even UHF-based single reference perturbation theory methods may not cope with some such situations, and multireference perturbation theory, despite many efforts over the years, still appears to be far from developing a general flexible approach that is competitive with MRCI. Transition-metal chemistry, in particular, is a graveyard for UHF-based MP methods. 

H.J. Werner, Third-order multireference perturbation theory— The CASPT3 method. Mol Phys. 89 (2) (1996) 645-661. 

When MCSCF wavefunctions are used as the reference, the most commonly used methods for recovering the electron correlation are multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) (15) and multireference perturbation theory (MRPT)... 

The development of multireference methods represents important progress in electronic stmcture theory in the last decades. The multiconfiguration self-consistent field (MCSCF) method, and configuration interaction (Cl), coupled cluster (CC), and perturbation methods based on the MCSCF functions play a central role in the studies of electronic stmcture of molecules and chemical reaction mechanisms, especially in those concerned with electronic excited states. 

Figure 4.1 Important features of ground- and excited-state PESs for ethylene photodynamics and demonstration of the inadequacy of TDDFT and CIS methods for this problem, (a) Sq and PESs for ethylene in the pyramidalization and torsion coordinates (defined in the inset) that dominate the photodynamics. This surface was calculated using multireference perturbation theory — CAS(2/2) PT2. The global minimum on Si occurs at twisted and pyramidalized geometries. (b-d) A quantitative comparison of the Si PES obtained with CAS(2/2) PT2, TDDFT/B3LYP, and CIS, respectively. All calculations use the 6-3IG basis set. The TDDFT and CIS calculations are performed in a spin-unrestricted formalism. Contour values are given in eV, and in all cases the energies are referenced to the Sq equilibrium geometry at the corresponding level of theory. Only the multireference calculation captures the Si minimum correctly.

Numerous theoretical studies on DMABN have been carried out, and many of them confirm the greater validity of the TICT model. The main body of such calculations, however, has been limited to the isolated system, while few examples including solvent effects can be quoted. " On the contrary, the phenomenon is strongly related to solvation and thus explicit considerations of solvent interactions are very important to get a more accurate understamding of the experimental evidence on the specific effects due to the presence of polar solvents. Here we summarize the results of the correlated study of DMABN both in vacuo and in solution we have published on the Journal of American Chemical Society. In this study we have used the multireference perturbation configuration interaction (Cl) method, known with the CIPSI acronym, which has been coupled to the PCM-IEF solvation continuum model. ... 

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