SCRF

As with SCRF-PCM only macroscopic electrostatic contribntions to the Gibbs free energy of solvation are taken into account, short-range effects which are limited predominantly to the first solvation shell have to be considered by adding additional tenns. These correct for the neglect of effects caused by solnte-solvent electron correlation inclnding dispersion forces, hydrophobic interactions, dielectric saturation in the case of... 

If the species is charged then an appropriate Born term must also be added. The react field model can be incorporated into quantum mechanics, where it is commonly refer to as the self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) method, by considering the reaction field to a perturbation of the Hamiltonian for an isolated molecule. The modified Hamiltoniar the system is then given by ... 

A drawback of the SCRF method is its use of a spherical cavity molecules are rarely exac spherical in shape. However, a spherical representation can be a reasonable first apprc mation to the shape of many molecules. It is also possible to use an ellipsoidal cavity t may be a more appropriate shape for some molecules. For both the spherical and ellipsoi cavities analytical expressions for the first and second derivatives of the energy can derived, so enabling geometry optimisations to be performed efficiently. For these cavil it is necessary to define their size. In the case of a spherical cavity a value for the rad can be calculated from the molecular volume ... 

The Poisson equation has been used for both molecular mechanics and quantum mechanical descriptions of solvation. It can be solved directly using numerical differential equation methods, such as the finite element or finite difference methods, but these calculations can be CPU-intensive. A more efficient quantum mechanical formulation is referred to as a self-consistent reaction field calculation (SCRF) as described below. 

The SM1-SM3 methods model solvation in water with various degrees of sophistication. The SM4 method models solvation in alkane solvents. The SM5 method is generalized to model any solvent. The SM5.42R method is designed to work with HF, DFT or hybrid HF/DFT calculations, as well as with AMI or PM3. SM5.42R is implemented using a SCRF algorithm as described below. A description of the differences between these methods can be found in the manual accompanying the AMSOL program and in the reviews listed at the end of this chapter. Available Hamiltonians and solvents are summarized in Table 24.1. 

The self-consistent reaction held (SCRF) method is an adaptation of the Poisson method for ah initio calculations. There are quite a number of variations on this method. One point of difference is the shape of the solvent cavity. Various models use spherical cavities, spheres for each atom, or an isosurface... 

There are many technical details involved in SCRF calculations, many of which the user can control. Readers of this book are advised to use the default values as much as possible unless they have carefully examined the original literature and tested their modifications. PCM methods are generally more accurate than the Onsager and COSMO methods. 

The most popular of the SCRF methods is the polarized continuum method (PCM) developed by Tomasi and coworkers. This technique uses a numerical integration over the solute charge density. There are several variations, each of which uses a nonspherical cavity. The generally good results and ability to describe the arbitrary solute make this a widely used method. Flowever, it is sensitive to the choice of a basis set. Some software implementations of this method may fail for more complex molecules. 

The HE, GVB, local MP2, and DFT methods are available, as well as local, gradient-corrected, and hybrid density functionals. The GVB-RCI (restricted configuration interaction) method is available to give correlation and correct bond dissociation with a minimum amount of CPU time. There is also a GVB-DFT calculation available, which is a GVB-SCF calculation with a post-SCF DFT calculation. In addition, GVB-MP2 calculations are possible. Geometry optimizations can be performed with constraints. Both quasi-Newton and QST transition structure finding algorithms are available, as well as the SCRF solvation method. 

SCRF (self-consistent reaction field) method for including solvation effects in ah initio calculations... 

One femily of models for systems in non-aqueous solution are referred to as Self-Consistent Reaction Field (SCRF) methods. These methods all model the solvent as a continuum of uniform dielectric constant e the reaction field. The solute is placed into a cavity within the solvent. SCRF approachs differ in how they define the cavity and the reaction field. Several are illustrated below. 

The simplest SCRF model is the Onsager reaction field model. In this method, the solute occupies a fixed spherical cavity of radius Oq within the solvent field. A dipole in the molecule will induce a dipole in the medium, and the electric field applied by the solvent dipole will in turn interact with the molecular dipole, leading to net stabilization. 

Note that systems having a dipole moment of 0 will not exhibit solvent effects for the Onsager SCRF model, and therefore Onsager model (SCRF=Dipole) calculations performed on them will give the same results as for the gas phase. This is an inherent limitation of the Onsager approach. 

The SCRf keyword in the route section of a Gaussian job requests a calcuJation in the presence of a solvent. SCRF calculations generally require an additional input line following the molecule specification section s terminating blank line, having the following form ... 

We ran an SCRF single point energy calculation for gauche dichloroethane conformers in cyclohexane (e=2.0), using the Onsager model at the Hartree-Fock and MP2 levels of theory (flfl=3.65) and using the IPCM model at the B3LYP level. The 6-31+G(d) basis set was used for all jobs. We also ran gas phase calculations for both conformations at the same model chemistries, and an IPCM calculation for the trans conformation (SCRF=Dipole calculations are not necessary for the trans conformation since it has no dipole moment). 

Next, we will consider the vibrational frequencies of formaldehyde in acetonitrile, using the Onsager SCRF model and the SCIPCM model. Acetonitrile is a highly polar solvent, with an e value of 35.9. In order to predict the vibrational frequencies, we ll first need to optimize the structure for formaldehyde in this medium. Thus, we ll be running these jobs ... 

An SCRF geometry optimization, beginning at the optimized gas phase structure, for each model. 

An SCRF frequency calculation at the two SCRF optimized structures. Note that frequency calculations must be run as a separate job step for SCRF calculations (Opt Freq does not do what might be expected). 

As this table indicates, the SCRF facility in Gaussian produces very good agreement with experiment. The solvent produces fairly small but significant shifts in the locations of the major peaks, as predicted by both SCRF models. 

The graph on the right plots the predicted energy difference by SCRF method and solvent environment, and the graph on the left plots the predicted solvent effect for the various methods and solvents. 

As the plot of AE indicates, the energy difference between the two forms decreases in more polar solvents, and becomes nearly zero in acetonitrile. The left plot illustrates the fact that the IPCM model (at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory) does a much better job of reproducing the observed solvent effect than the two Onsager SCRF models. In contrast, the Onsager model at the MP2 level treats the solvated systems more accurately than it does the gas phase system, leading to a poorer value for the solvent effect. ... 

Use the RHF/6-31+G(d) level of theory with Onsager SCRF method. 

Compute the frequency associated with carbonyl stretch in solution with acetonitrUe for the carbonyl systems we looked at in the gas phase in Chapter 4. Run your calculations using RHF/6-31+G(d) with the Onsager SCRF model. Discuss the substituent effect on the predicted solvent effects. 

Optimize the two equilibrium structures in solution, using the Onsager SCRF method and the RHF/6-31G(d) model chemistry. You ll of course need to determine the appropriate cavity radius first. 

Perform frequency calculations on all three optimized structures, using the same SCRF method and model chemistry. 

Compute the energies of the three structures using the SCI-PCM SCRF model and the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) model chemistry. ... 

Compute the energy difference between the anti (left) and syn forms of furfuraldehyde in a solution of dimethyl ether (e=12.0), using either the Onsager (MP2/6-31+G(d)) ortheSCIPCM (B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) SCRF models. The observed energy difference is -0.53 kcal-moT. ... 

Solution The following table lists the energy differences that we computed as well as the original researchers HF/6-31+G(d) Onsager and B3LYP/6-31+G(d) SCRF=IPCM results ... 

Both the MP2 Onsager calculation and the IPCM calculaton are in good agreement with experiment. The SCI-PCM and Hartree-Fock Onsager SCRF calculations perform significantly less well for this problem. ... 

J. B. Foresman, T. A. Keith, K. B. Wiberg, J. Snoonian and M. J. Frisch, Solvent Effects. 5. The Influence of Cavity Shape, Truncation of Electrostatics, and Electron Correlation on Ab Initio Reaction Field Calculations, J. Phys. Chem., submitted (1996). [Discusses the IPCM SCRF model.]... 

SCRF keyword 239 input for 239 options 239 SCRF methods... 

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