Resolving an apparent discrepancy between theory and experiment: spin-spin coupling constants for FCCF

On the performance of HRPA(D) for NMR spin-spin coupling constants: Smaller molecules, aromatic and fluoroaromatic compounds

In this study, the performance of the doubles-corrected higher random-phase approximation [HRPA(D)] has been investigated in calculations of nuclear magnetic resonance spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs) for 58 molecules with the experimental values used as the reference values. HRPA(D) is an approximation to the second-order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA) and is, therefore, computationally less expensive than SOPPA. HRPA(D) performs comparable and sometimes even better than SOPPA, and therefore, when calculating SSCCs, it should be considered as an alternative to SOPPA. Furthermore, it was investigated whether a coupled-cluster singles, doubles and perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] or Møller-Plesset second order (MP2) geometry optimization was optimal for a SOPPA and a HRPA(D) SSCC calculation for eight smaller molecules. CCSD(T) is the optimal geometry optimization for the SOPPA calculation, and MP2 was optimal for HRPA(D) SSCC calculations.

Exploring Alternate Methods for the Calculation of High-Level Vibrational Corrections of NMR Spin-Spin Coupling Constants

Traditional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) calculations typically treat systems with a Born-Oppenheimer-derived electronic wave function that is solved for a fixed nuclear geometry. One can numerically account for this neglected nuclear motion by averaging over property values for all nuclear geometries with a vibrational wave function and adding this expectation value as a correction to an equilibrium geometry property value. Presented are benchmark coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) vibrational corrections to spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs) computed at the level of vibrational second-order perturbation theory (VPT2) using the vibrational averaging driver of the CFOUR program. As CCSD calculations of vibrational corrections are very costly, cheaper electronic structure methods are explored via a newly developed Python vibrational averaging program within the Dalton Project. Namely, results obtained with the second-order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA) and density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP and PBE0 exchange-correlation functionals are compared to the benchmark CCSD//CCSD(T) and experimental values. CCSD//CCSD(T) corrections are also combined with literature CC3 equilibrium geometry values to form the highest-order vibrationally corrected values available (i.e., CC3//CCSD(T) + CCSD//CCSD(T)). CCSD//CCSD(T) statistics showed favorable statistics in comparison to experimental values, albeit at an unfavorably high computational cost. A cheaper CCSD//CCSD(T) + B3LYP method showed quite similar mean absolute deviation (MAD) values as CCSD//CCSD(T), concluding that CCSD//CCSD(T) + B3LYP is optimal in terms of cost and accuracy. With reference to experimental values, a vibrational correction was not worth the cost for all of the other methods tested. Finally, deviation statistics showed that CC3//CCSD(T) + CCSD//CCSD(T) vibrational-corrected equilibrium values deteriorated in comparison to CCSD//CCSD(T) attributed to the use of a smaller basis set or lack of solvation effects for the CC3 equilibrium calculations.

Theoretical calculations of carbon-hydrogen spin-spin coupling constants

Structural applications of theoretical calculations of carbon-hydrogen spin-spin coupling constants are reviewed covering papers published mainly during the last 10-15 years with a special emphasis on the most notable studies of hybridization, substitution and stereoelectronic effects together with the investigation of hydrogen bonding and intermolecular interactions. The wide scope of different applications of calculated carbon-hydrogen couplings in the structural elucidation of particular classes of organic and bioorganic molecules is reviewed, concentrating mainly on saturated, unsaturated, aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds and their functional derivatives, as well as on natural compounds and carbohydrates. The review is dedicated to Professor Emeritus Michael Barfield in view of his invaluable pioneering contribution to this field.

Importance of Triples Contributions to NMR Spin-Spin Coupling Constants Computed at the CC3 and CCSDT Levels

We present the first analytical implementation of CC3 second derivatives using the spin-unrestricted approach. This allows, for the first time, the calculation of nuclear spin-spin coupling constants (SSCC) relevant to NMR spectroscopy at the CC3 level of theory in a fully analytical manner. CC3 results for the SSCCs of a number of small molecules and their fluorine substituted derivatives are compared with the corresponding coupled cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) results obtained using specialized basis sets. For one-bond couplings the change when going from CCSD to CC3 is typically 1-3%, but much higher corrections were found for ¹J_CN in FCN, 15.7%, and ¹J_OF in OF₂, 6.4%. The changes vary significantly in the case of multibond couplings, with differences of up to 10%, and even 13.6% for ³J_FH in fluoroacetylene. Calculations at the coupled cluster singles, doubles, and triples (CCSDT) level indicate that the most important contributions arising from connected triple excitations in the coupled cluster expansion are accounted for at the CC3 level. Thus, we believe that the CC3 method will become the standard approach for the calculation of reference values of nuclear spin-spin coupling constants.

Structures, energies, and spin-spin coupling constants of fluoro-substituted 1,3-diborata-2,4-diphosphoniocyclobutanes: four-member B-P-B-P rings B2P2F(n)H(8-n) with n = 0, 1, 2, 4

An ab initio study has been carried out to determine the structures, relative stabilities, and spin-spin coupling constants of a set of 15 fluoro-substituted 1,3-diborata-2,4-diphosphoniocyclobutanes B(2)P(2)F(n)H(8-n), for n = 0, 1, 2, 4, with four-member B-P-B-P rings. Except for B(2)P(2)F(4)H(4) with four fluorines bonded to two borons, these rings are puckered in a butterfly conformation. For a fixed number of fluorines, the isomers with B-F bonds are significantly more stable than those with P-F bonds. As the number of fluorines increases, the energy difference between the most stable isomer and the other isomers increases. Transition structures which interconvert axial and equatorial positions present relatively small inversion barriers. Coupling constants involving (31)P, namely, (1)J(B-P), (1)J(P-F), (2)J(P-P), (2)J(P-F), and (3)J(P-F) are large and are capable of providing structural information. They are sensitive to the number of fluorines present and can discriminate between axial, equatorial, and geminal B-F and P-F bonds, although not all do this to the same extent. (1)J(B-P) and (2)J(P-P) are similar in equilibrium and transition structures. Although transition structures no longer discriminate between axial and equatorial bonds, (1)J(P-F) and (3)J(P-F) remain sensitive to the number of fluorine atoms present.

Do corresponding coupling constants in hydrogen-bonded homo- and hetero-chiral dimers differ?

Ab initio equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM–CCSD) calculations have been carried out to evaluate spin–spin coupling constants in six pairs of homo- and hetero-chiral dimers: (HOOH)2, (H2NNH2)2, (FOOH)2, (FHNNH2)2, (HOOOH)2, and (FOOOH)2. Corresponding spin–spin coupling constants in these isomeric pairs of C2 and Ci symmetry may differ, but these differences are small and may not be detectable experimentally. For the complexes with O1–H···O and O1–H···F hydrogen bonds, 1J(O1–H) has a larger absolute value in the C2 isomer. For the same set of complexes, 1J(O1–O2) has a larger absolute value in the Ci isomer. No distinguishable patterns could be discerned in the remaining spin–spin coupling constants in the C2 and Ci isomers of these complexes, nor in complexes with N–H···N hydrogen bonds.

Ab initio EOM-CCSD investigation of one-bond C-C, N-C, and N-N spin-spin coupling constants in fluoroazines

Ab initio EOM-CCSD calculations were carried out to examine one-bond (1)J (C-C), (1)J(N-C), and (1)J(N-N) spin-spin coupling constants in benzene, pyridine, the diazines, and selected triazines, tetrazines, and pentazine and their fluoro-substituted derivatives. Relative to benzene, (1)J(C-C) decreases in the azines as N atoms are introduced into the ring, but this decrease does not exceed 5 Hz. In the fluoro-substituted derivatives, (1)J(C-C) may increase only slightly if the coupled carbon atoms form C-H bonds, or increase dramatically if either or both of the coupled atoms participate in C-F bonds. The value of (1)J(C-C) also depends on the nature of the bonding of the coupled atoms in the ring. The largest increase is found when both carbons participate in C-F bonds, and both are ortho to N atoms. Relative to pyridine, (1)J(N-C) increases as N atoms are introduced into the ring, with the magnitude of the increase depending on the bonding of the coupled atoms. It is negligible if neither atom is bonded to another N, increases if one of the coupled atoms is bonded to another N atom, and increases further if both are bonded to other N atoms. Fluoro-substitution has an opposing effect on (1)J(N-C), making this coupling constant less positive or negative when the coupled C participates in a C-F bond. The decrease in (1)J(N-C) relative to the parent molecule is enhanced if either of the coupled atoms is bonded to another N atom or to another C-F group. A further enhancement occurs if both coupled atoms are so bonded, with the largest increases associated with the bonding scheme in which the coupled C is bonded to another N and the coupled N to another C-F. Fluoro-substitution has a small effect on (1)J(N-C) if the coupled C forms a C-H bond, and on (1)J(N-N). Thus, the effects of fluoro-substitution on one-bond couplings tend to be localized.

Probing (1)J(C-F) and (n)J(F-F) spin-spin coupling constants for fluoroazines: an ab initio theoretical investigation

Ab initio equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles calculations have been carried out to evaluate one-bond C-F coupling constants (1)J(C-F) and three-, four-, and five-bond F-F coupling constants (n)J(F-F) for a series of mono-, di-, and trifluoroazines. The computed (1)J(C-F) and (n)J(F-F) values for these are in good agreement with available experimental coupling constants. The values of (1)J(C-F) vary as the number and positions of N atoms and the number and relative positions of C-F bonds change, but it is difficult to discern general patterns for these changes due to opposing effects of the Fermi contact and paramagnetic spin-orbit terms. The majority of (1)J(C-F) values lie in a range that includes the three monosubstituted pyridines. For trifluoroazines, (1)J(C-F) for a C-F bond that is ortho to two other C-F bonds is greater than (1)J(C-F) for the other two bonds. F-F coupling constants arise in these molecules when the two C-F bonds are ortho, meta, or para. Values of (3)J(F-F) are relatively large and negative, whereas values of (5)J(F-F) are relatively large and positive. (4)J(F-F) may be positive or negative and large or small. The value of this coupling constant depends on the nature of the atom that links the two C-F bonds and the number and positions of N atoms in the ring. The calculations carried out in this study at a reliable level of theory give values for one-bond C-F and n-bond F-F spin-spin coupling constants for the fluoroazines that are not available experimentally. In addition, the patterns that describe the changes that occur in these molecules provide a basis for predicting their values in larger, related systems in the absence of experimental data and direct calculations.

Difluorobenzenes revisited: an experimental and theoretical study of spin-spin coupling constants for 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-difluorobenzene

The experimental spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs) for 1,3- and 1,4-difluorobenzene have been determined anew, and found to be consistent with previously determined values. SSCCs for 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-difluorobenzene have been analyzed by comparing them with the coupling constants computed using the second-order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA) and the equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles method (EOM-CCSD). Eighty experimental values have been analyzed using SOPPA calculations, and a subset of 40 values using both SOPPA and EOM-CCSD approaches. One-bond coupling constants (1)J(C-C) and (1)J(C-F) are better described by EOM-CCSD, whereas one-bond (1)J(C-H) values are better described by SOPPA. An empirical equation is presented which allows for the prediction of unknown coupling constants from computed SOPPA values. A similar approach may prove useful for predicting coupling constants in larger systems.