Michael N. Weaver

Assessment of the "6-31+G** + LANL2DZ" mixed basis set coupled with density functional theory methods and the effective core potential: prediction of heats of formation and ionization potentials for first-row-transition-metal complexes.

Computational chemists have long demonstrated great interest in finding ways to reliably and accurately predict the molecular properties for transition-metal-containing complexes. This study is a continuation of our validation efforts of density functional theory (DFT) methods when applied to transition-metal-containing systems (Riley, K.E.; Merz, K. M., Jr. J. Phys. Chem. 2007, 111, 6044-6053). In our previous work we examined DFT using all-electron basis sets, but approaches incorporating effective core potentials (ECPs) are effective in reducing computational expense. With this in mind, our efforts were expanded to include evaluation of the performance of the basis set derived to approximate such an approach as well on the same set of density functionals. Indeed, employing an ECP basis such as LANL2DZ (Los Alamos National Laboratory 2 double zeta) for transition metals, while using all-electron basis sets for all other non-transition-metal atoms, has become more and more popular in computations on transition-metal-containing systems. In this study, we assess the performance of 12 different DFT functionals, from the GGA (generalized gradient approximation), hybrid-GGA, meta-GGA, and hybrid-meta-GGA classes, respectively, along with the 6-31+G** + LANL2DZ (on the transition metal) mixed basis set in predicting two important molecular properties, heats of formation and ionization potentials, for 94 and 58 systems containing first-row transition metals from Ti to Zn, which are all in the third row of the periodic table. An interesting note is that the inclusion of the exact exchange term in density functional methods generally increases the accuracy of ionization potential prediction for the hybrid-GGA methods but decreases the reliability of determining the heats of formation for transition-metal-containing complexes for all hybrid density functional methods. The hybrid-GGA functional B3LYP gives the best performance in predicting the ionization potentials, while the meta-GGA functional TPSSTPSS provides the most reliable and accurate results for heat of formation calculations. TPSSTPSS, a meta-GGA functional, which was constructed from first principles and subject to known exact constraints just like in an ab initio way, is successful in predicting both the ionization potentials and the heats of formation for transition-metal-containing systems.

Assessment of the CCSD and CCSD(T) coupled-cluster methods in calculating heats of formation for Zn complexes.

Heats of formation were calculated using coupled-cluster methods for a series of zinc complexes. The calculated values were evaluated against previously conducted computational studies using density functional methods as well as experimental values. Heats of formation for nine neutral ZnX(n) complexes [X = -Zn, -H, -O, -F2, -S, -Cl, -Cl2, -CH3, (-CH3)2] were determined at the CCSD and CCSD(T) levels using the 6-31G** and TZVP basis sets as well as the LANL2DZ-6-31G** (LACVP**) and LANL2DZ-TZVP hybrid basis sets. The CCSD(T)/6-31G** level of theory was found to predict the heat of formation for the nonalkyl Zn complexes most accurately. The alkyl Zn species were problematic in that none of the methods that were tested accurately predicted the heat of formation for these complexes. In instances where experimental geometric parameters were available, these were most accurately predicted by the CCSD/6-31G** level of theory; going to CCSD(T) did not improve agreement with the experimental values. Coupled-cluster methods did not offer a systemic improvement over DFT calculations for a given functional/basis set combination. With the exceptions of ZnH and ZnF2, there are multiple density functionals that outperform coupled-cluster calculations with the 6-31G** basis set.

Molecular Dynamics Study of Helicobacter pylori Urease

Helicobacter pylori have been implicated in an array of gastrointestinal disorders including, but not limited to, gastric and duodenal ulcers and adenocarcinoma. This bacterium utilizes an enzyme, urease, to produce copious amounts of ammonia through urea hydrolysis in order to survive the harsh acidic conditions of the stomach. Molecular dynamics (MD) studies on the H. pylori urease enzyme have been employed in order to study structural features of this enzyme that may shed light on the hydrolysis mechanism. A total of 400 ns of MD simulation time were collected and analyzed in this study. A wide-open flap state previously observed in MD simulations on Klebsiella aerogenes [Roberts et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2012, 134, 9934] urease has been identified in the H. pylori enzyme that has yet to be experimentally observed. Critical distances between residues on the flap, contact points in the closed state, and the separation between the active site Ni2+ ions and the critical histidine α322 residue were used to characterize flap motion. An additional flap in the active site was elaborated upon that we postulate may serve as an exit conduit for hydrolysis products. Finally we discuss the internal hollow cavity and present analysis of the distribution of sodium ions over the course of the simulation.

Tuning Aryl, Hydrazine Radical Cation Electronic Interactions Using Substitutent Effects

Absorption spectra for 2,3-diaryl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane radical cations (2(X)(*+)) and for their monoaryl analogues 2-tert-butyl-3-aryl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane radical cations (1(X)(*+)) having para chloro, bromo, iodo, cyano, phenyl, and nitro substituents are reported and compared with those for the previously reported 1- and 2(H)(*+) and 1- and 2(OMe)(*+). The calculated geometries and optical absorption spectra for 2(Cl)(*+) demonstrate that p-C6H4Cl lies between p-C6H4OMe and C6H5 in its ability to stabilize the lowest energy optical transition of the radical cation, which involves electron donation from the aryl groups toward the pi*(NN)(+)-centered singly occupied molecular orbital of 2(X)(*+). Resonance Raman spectral determination of the reorganization energy for their lowest energy transitions (lambda(v)(sym)) increase in the same order, having values of 1420, 5300, and 6000 cm(-1) for X = H, Cl, and OMe, respectively. A neighboring orbital analysis using Koopmans-based calculations of relative orbital energies indicates that the diabatic aryl pi-centered molecular orbital that interacts with the dinitrogen pi system lies closest in energy to the bonding pi(NN)-centered orbital and has an electronic coupling with it of about 9200 +/- 600 cm(-1), which does not vary regularly with electron donating power of the X substituent.