Dipole and quadrupole moments of molecules in crystals: A novel approach based on integration over Hirshfeld surfaces

Molecular simulation of water and hydration effects in different environments: challenges and developments for DFTB based models

We discuss the description of water and hydration effects that employs an approximate density functional theory, DFTB3, in either a full QM or QM/MM framework. The goal is to explore, with the current formulation of DFTB3, the performance of this method for treating water in different chemical environments, the magnitude and nature of changes required to improve its performance, and factors that dictate its applicability to reactions in the condensed phase in a QM/MM framework. A relatively minor change (on the scale of kBT) in the O-H repulsive potential is observed to substantially improve the structural properties of bulk water under ambient conditions; modest improvements are also seen in dynamic properties of bulk water. This simple change also improves the description of protonated water clusters, a solvated proton, and to a more limited degree, a solvated hydroxide. By comparing results from DFTB3 models that differ in the description of water, we confirm that proton transfer energetics are adequately described by the standard DFTB3/3OB model for meaningful mechanistic analyses. For QM/MM applications, a robust parametrization of QM-MM interactions requires an explicit consideration of condensed phase properties, for which an efficient sampling technique was developed recently and is reviewed here. The discussions help make clear the value and limitations of DFTB3 based simulations, as well as the developments needed to further improve the accuracy and transferability of the methodology.

Reassessment of large dipole moment enhancements in crystals: a detailed experimental and theoretical charge density analysis of 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline

The molecular dipole moment of MNA in the crystal has been critically reexamined, to test the conclusion from an earlier experimental charge density analysis that it was substantially enhanced due to a combination of strong intermolecular interactions and crystal field effects. X-ray and neutron diffraction data have been carefully measured at 100 K and supplemented with ab initio crystal Hartree-Fock calculations. Considerable care taken in the measurement and reduction of the experimental data excluded most systematic errors, and sources of error and their effects on the experimental electron density have been carefully investigated. The electron density derived from a fit to theoretical structure factors assisted in the determination of the scale and thermal motion model. The dipole moment enhancement for MNA in the crystal is much less than that reported previously and only on the order of 30-40% (approximately 2.5 D). In addition to the dipole moment, experimental deformation electron density maps, bond critical point data, electric field gradients at hydrogen nuclei, and atomic and group charges all agree well with theoretical results and trends. Anisotropic modeling of the motion of hydrogen atoms, integral use of periodic ab initio calculations, and improved data quality are all aspects of this study that represent a considerable advance over previous work.

Progress in the understanding of drug-receptor interactions, part 2: experimental and theoretical electrostatic moments and interaction energies of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (C30H30N6(O)3S)

A combined experimental and theoretical charge density study of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (1) is presented focusing on electrostatic properties such as atomic charges, molecular electric moments up to the fourth rank and energies of the intermolecular interactions, to gain an insight into the physical nature of the drug-receptor interaction. Electrostatic properties were derived from both the experimental electron density (multipole refinement of X-ray data collected at T=17 K) and the ab initio wavefunction (single molecule and fully periodic calculations at the DFT level). The relevance of SO and SN intramolecular interactions on the activity of 1 is highlighted by using both the crystal and gas-phase geometries and their electrostatic nature is documented by means of QTAIM atomic charges. The derived electrostatic properties are consistent with a nearly spherical electron density distribution, characterised by an intermingling of electropositive and -negative zones rather than by a unique electrophilic region opposed to a nucleophilic area. This makes the first molecular moment scarcely significant and ill-determined, whereas the second moment is large, significant and highly reliable. A comparison between experimental and theoretical components of the third electric moment shows a few discrepancies, whereas the agreement for the fourth electric moment is excellent. The most favourable intermolecular bond is show to be an NHN hydrogen bond with an energy of about 50 kJ mol(-1). Key pharmacophoric features responsible for attractive electrostatic interactions include CHX hydrogen bonds. It is shown that methyl and methylene groups, known to be essential for the biological activity of the drug, provide a significant energetic contribution to the total binding energy. Dispersive interactions are important at the thiophene and at both the phenyl fragments. The experimental estimates of the electrostatic contribution to the intermolecular interaction energies of six molecular pairs, obtained by a new model proposed by Spackman, predict the correct relative electrostatic energies with no exceptions.

Dipole Moment Enhancement in Molecular Crystals from X-ray Diffraction Data

Although reliable determination of the molecular dipole moment from experimental charge density analyses on molecular crystals is a challenging undertaking, these values are becoming increasingly common experimental results. We collate all known experimental determinations and use this database to identify broad trends in the dipole moment enhancements implied by these measurements as well as outliers for which enhancements are pronounced. Compelling evidence emerges that molecular dipole moments from X-ray diffraction data can provide a wealth of information on the change in the molecular charge distribution that results from crystal formation. Most importantly, these experiments are unrivalled in their potential to provide this information in such detail and deserve to be exploited to a much greater extent. The considerable number of experimental determinations now available has enabled us to pinpoint those studies that merit further attention, either because they point unequivocally to a considerable enhancement in the crystal (of 50 % or more), or because the experimental determinations suggest enhancements of 100 % or more--much larger than independent theoretical estimates. In both cases further detailed experimental and theoretical studies are indicated.

Electric field-derived point charges to mimic the electrostatics in molecular crystals

Because of the way the electrostatic potential is defined in a crystal, it is not possible to determine potential-derived charges for atoms in a crystal. To overcome this limitation, we present a novel method for determining atomic charges for a molecule in a crystal based on a fit to the electric field at points on a surface around the molecule. Examples of fits to the electric field at points on a Hirshfeld surface, using crystal Hartree-Fock electron densities computed with a DZP basis set are presented for several organic molecular crystals. The field-derived charges for common functional groups are transferable, and reflect chemical functionality as well as the subtle effects of intermolecular interactions. The charges also yield an excellent approximation to the electric field surrounding a molecule in a crystal for use in cluster calculations on molecules in solids.