Benchmark Study on the Calculation of 119Sn NMR Chemical Shifts.

A new benchmark set termed SnS51 for assessing quantum chemical methods for the computation of 119Sn NMR chemical shifts is presented. It covers 51 unique 119Sn NMR chemical shifts for a selection of 50 tin compounds with diverse bonding motifs and ligands. The experimental reference data are in the spectral range of ±2500 ppm measured in seven different solvents. Fifteen common density functional approximations, two scalar- and one spin-orbit relativistic approach are assessed based on conformer ensembles generated using the CREST/CENSO scheme and state-of-the-art semiempirical (GFN2-xTB), force field (GFN-FF), and composite DFT methods (r2SCAN-3c). Based on the results of this study, the spin-orbit relativistic method combinations of SO-ZORA with PBE0 or revPBE functionals are generally recommended. Both yield mean absolute deviations from experimental data below 100 ppm and excellent linear regression determination coefficients of ≤0.99. If spin-orbit calculations are not affordable, the use of SR-ZORA with B3LYP or X2C with ωB97X or M06 may be considered to obtain qualitative predictions if no severe spin-orbit effects, for example, due to heavy nuclei containing ligands, are expected. An empirical linear scaling correction is demonstrated to be applicable for further improvement, and respective empirical parameters are given. Conformational effects on chemical shifts are studied in detail but are mostly found to be small. However, in specific cases when the ligand sphere differs substantially between conformers, chemical shifts can change by up to several hundred ppm.

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of (Al2O3)2-5FeO+: influence of Fe-substitution on small alumina clusters.

The infrared photodissociation spectra of He-tagged (Al2O3)nFeO+ (n = 2-5), are reported in the Al-O and Fe-O stretching and bending spectral region (430-1200 cm-1) and assigned based on calculated harmonic IR spectra from density functional theory (DFT). The substitution of Fe for an Al center occurs preferentially at 3-fold oxygen coordination sites located at the cluster rim and with the Fe atom in the +III oxidation state. The accompanying elongation of metal oxygen bonds leaves the Al-O network structure nearly unperturbed (isomorphous substitution). Contrary to the Al2FeO4+ (n = 1), valence isomerism is not observed, which is attributed to a smaller M:O ratio (M = Al, Fe) and consequently decreasing electron affinities with increasing cluster size.

Optimization of the r2SCAN-3c Composite Electronic-Structure Method for Use with Slater-Type Orbital Basis Sets.

The "Swiss army knife" composite density functional electronic-structure method r2SCAN-3c (J. Chem. Phys. 2021, 154, 064103) is extended and optimized for the use with Slater-type orbital basis sets. The meta generalized-gradient approximation (meta-GGA) functional r2SCAN by Furness et al. is combined with a tailor-made polarized triple-ζ Slater-type atomic orbital (STO) basis set (mTZ2P), the semiclassical London dispersion correction (D4), and a geometrical counterpoise (gCP) correction. Relativistic effects are treated explicitly with the scalar-relativistic zeroth-order regular approximation (SR-ZORA). The performance of the new implementation is assessed on eight geometry and 74 energy benchmark sets, including the extensive GMTKN55 database as well as recent sets such as ROST61 and IONPI19. In geometry optimizations, the STO-based r2SCAN-3c is either on par with or more accurate than the hybrid density functional approximation M06-2X-D3(0)/TZP. In energy calculations, the overall accuracy is similar to the original implementation of r2SCAN-3c with Gaussian-type atomic orbitals (GTO), but basic properties, intermolecular noncovalent interactions, and barrier heights are better described with the STO approach, resulting in a lower weighted mean absolute deviation (WTMAD-2(STO) = 7.15 vs 7.50 kcal mol-1 with the original method) for the GMTKN55 database. The STO-optimized r2SCAN-3c outperforms many conventional hybrid/QZ approaches in most common applications at a fraction of their cost. The reliable, robust, and accurate r2SCAN-3c implementation with STOs is a promising alternative to the original implementation with GTOs and can be generally used for a broad field of quantum chemical problems.

Comprehensive Benchmark Study on the Calculation of 29Si NMR Chemical Shifts.

A comprehensive and diverse benchmark set for the calculation of 29Si NMR chemical shifts is presented. The SiS146 set includes 100 silicon containing compounds with 146 experimentally determined reference 29Si NMR chemical shifts measured in nine different solvents in a range from -400 to +828 ppm. Silicon atoms bound to main group elements as well as transition metals with coordination numbers of 2-6 in various bonding patterns including multiple bonds and coordinative and aromatic bonding are represented. The performance of various common and specialized density functional approximations including (meta-)GGA, hybrid, and double-hybrid functionals in combination with different AO basis sets and for differently optimized geometries is evaluated. The role of scalar-relativistic effects is further investigated by inclusion of the zeroth order regular approximation (ZORA) method into the calculations. GGA density functional approximations (DFAs) are found to outperform hybrid DFAs with B97-D3 performing best with an MAD of 7.2 ppm for the subset including only light atoms (Z < 18), while TPSSh is the best tested hybrid functional with an MAD of 10.3 ppm. For 29Si cores in the vicinity of heavier atoms, the application of ZORA proved indispensable. Inclusion of spin-orbit effects into the 29Si NMR chemical shift calculation decreases the mean absolute deviations by up to 74% compared to calculations applying effective core potentials.

Titanocene-Catalyzed [2+2] Cycloaddition of Bisenones and Comparison with Photoredox Catalysis and Established Methods.

Cp2 Ti(TFA) is a broadly applicable catalyst for the [2+2] cycloaddition of bisenones by inner-sphere electron transfer. The attractiveness of this mechanism is shown by comparison with outer-sphere ET methods. DFT calculations show that the reaction proceeds through a unique unfavorable 5-exo (the rate-determining step) and a favorable 4-exo cyclization.

Valence and Structure Isomerism of Al2FeO4+: Synergy of Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemistry.

We provide spectroscopic and computational evidence for a substantial change in structure and gas phase reactivity of Al3O4+ upon Fe-substitution, which is correctly predicted by multireference (MR) wave function calculations. Al3O4+ exhibits a cone-like structure with a central trivalent O atom (C3v symmetry). The replacement of the Al- by an Fe atom leads to a planar bicyclic frame with a terminal Al-O•- radical site, accompanied by a change from the Fe+III/O-II to the Fe+II/O-I valence state. The gas phase vibrational spectrum of Al2FeO4+ is exclusively reproduced by the latter structure, which MR wave function calculations correctly identify as the most stable isomer. This isomer of Al2FeO4+ is predicted to be highly reactive with respect to C-H bond activation, very similar to Al8O12+ which also features the terminal Al-O•- radical site. Density functional theory, in contrast, predicts a less reactive Al3O4+-like "isomorphous substitution" structure of Al2FeO4+ to be the most stable one, except for functionals with very high admixture of Fock exchange (50%, BHLYP).

Building up Strain in One Step: Synthesis of an Edge-Fused Double Silacyclobutene from an Extensively Trichlorosilylated Butadiene Dianion.

The exhaustive trichlorosilylation of hexachloro-1,3-butadiene was achieved in one step by using a mixture of Si2 Cl6 and [nBu4 N]Cl (7:2 equiv) as the silylation reagent. The corresponding butadiene dianion salt [nBu4 N]2 [1] was isolated in 36 % yield after recrystallization. The negative charges of [1]2- are mainly delocalized across its two carbanionic (Cl3 Si)2 C termini (α-effect of silicon) such that the central bond possesses largely C=C double-bond character. Upon treatment with 4 equiv of HCl, [1]2- is converted into neutral 1,2,3,4-tetrakis(trichlorosilyl)but-2-ene, 3. The Cl- acceptor AlCl3 , induces a twofold ring-closure reaction of [1]2- to form a six-membered bicycle 4 in which two silacyclobutene rings are fused along a shared C=C double bond (84 %). Compound 4, which was structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography, undergoes partial ring opening to a monocyclic silacyclobutene 2 in the presence of HCl, but is thermally stable up to at least 180 °C.

Reduction of Hartree-Fock Wavefunctions to Kohn-Sham Effective Potentials Using Multiresolution Analysis.

We present a highly accurate numerical implementation for computing the Kohn-Sham effective potentials for molecules based on a Hartree-Fock wavefunction and density, following the RKS approach of Staroverov and co-workers [ J. Chem. Phys. 2014, 140, 18A535]. Potentials and orbitals are represented in a multiresolution wavelet basis, avoiding basis set incompleteness-related issues. Together with the RKS method, the often occurring problems of oscillating potentials are removed. The MRA implementation of the RKS method allows the generation of molecular Kohn-Sham potentials of benchmark quality. Numerical data for atoms up to Kr and a number of molecules are given, with a special emphasis on the role of nodal planes in the calculations, as showcased in HCN and benzene.