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Benchmark calculations with correlated molecular wave functions. VIII. Bond energies and equilibrium geometries of the CH{sub n} and C{sub 2}H{sub n} (n=1{endash}4) series

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.474078· OSTI ID:497641
 [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352 (United States)
  2. Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352 (United States)

Using systematic sequences of correlation consistent basis sets, the accuracy of calculated bond energies D{sub e}(CH) and equilibrium geometries (r{sub e}, {theta}{sub e}) has been investigated for the CH{sub n} and C{sub 2}H{sub n} series (n=1{endash}4). Perturbation theory (MP2, MP3, MP4), coupled cluster [CCSD, CCSD(T)], and single and multireference configuration interaction (HF+1+2, CAS+1+2) methods have been investigated. Except for the vinyl radical, all of the calculated bond energies showed significant basis set dependence with average errors (standard deviations) of 5.6 ({plus_minus}3.0) kcal/mol for the cc-pVDZ set, 1.4 ({plus_minus}0.8) kcal/mol for the cc-pVTZ set, and 0.5 ({plus_minus}0.4) kcal/mol for the cc-pVQZ set with CCSD(T) wave functions. For the vinyl radical the total variation with basis set was just 0.6 kcal/mol. Strong basis set dependence was also observed for the equilibrium geometries, e.g., for r{sub e}(CH) the average error decreased from 0.020 {Angstrom} (cc-pVDZ) to 0.003 {Angstrom} (cc-pVTZ) to 0.002 {Angstrom} (cc-pVQZ). The effect of including the core electrons in the correlated calculations was also investigated for the two series. Inclusion of core correlation in the CH{sub n} series increased D{sub e}(CH) by 0.13 (CH) to 0.61 kcal/mol (CH{sub 2}) and decreased the equilibrium CH bond lengths by approximately 0.0015 {Angstrom}. For the C{sub 2}H{sub n} series, correlation of the core electrons increased D{sub e}(CH) by 0.18 (C{sub 2}H{sub 4}) to 1.01 (C{sub 2}H) kcal/mol, but decreased D{sub e}(CH) in C{sub 2}H{sub 2} by 0.25 kcal/mol. Predictions are also made for the equilibrium geometries of C{sub 2}H, H{sub 2}CC, and C{sub 2}H{sub 3}, as well as the CH bond strength of vinylidene and the acetylene{endash}vinylidene isomerization energy. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

DOE Contract Number:
FG06-89ER75522
OSTI ID:
497641
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 106; ISSN JCPSA6; ISSN 0021-9606
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English