The resolution of the identity approximation applied to the correlation consistent composite approach

PDG: A Composite Method Based on the Resolution of the Identity

The Gaussian-3 (G3) composite approach for thermochemical properties is revisited in light of the enhanced computational efficiency and reduced memory costs by applying the resolution-of-the-identity (RI) approximation for two-electron repulsion integrals (ERIs) to the computationally demanding component methods in the G3 model: the energy and gradient computations via the second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) and the energy computations using the coupled-cluster singles-doubles method augmented with noniterative triples corrections [CCSD(T)]. Efficient implementation of the RI-based methods is achieved by employing a hybrid distributed/shared memory model based on MPI and OpenMP. The new variant of the G3 composite approach based on the RI approximation is termed the RI-G3 scheme, or alternatively the PDG method. The accuracy of the new RI-G3/PDG scheme is compared to the "standard" G3 composite approach that employs the memory-expensive four-center ERIs in the MP2 and CCSD(T) calculations. Taking the computation of the heats of formation of the closed-shell molecules in the G3/99 test set as a test case, it is demonstrated that the RI approximation introduces negligible changes to the mean absolute errors relative to the standard G3 model (less than 0.1 kcal/mol), while the standard deviations remain unaltered. The efficiency and memory requirements for the RI-MP2 and RI-CCSD(T) methods are compared to the standard MP2 and CCSD(T) approaches, respectively. The hybrid MPI/OpenMP-based RI-MP2 energy plus gradient computation is found to attain a 7.5× speedup over the standard MP2 calculations. For the most demanding CCSD(T) calculations, the application of the RI approximation is found to nearly halve the memory demand, confer about a 4-5× speedup for the CCSD iterations, and reduce the computational time for the compute-intensive triples correction step by several hours.

Domain-based local pair natural orbital methods within the correlation consistent composite approach

Ab initio composite approaches have been utilized to model and predict main group thermochemistry within 1 kcal mol^-1 , on average, from well-established reliable experiments, primarily for molecules with less than 30 atoms. For molecules of increasing size and complexity, such as biomolecular complexes, composite methodologies have been limited in their application. Therefore, the domain-based local pair natural orbital (DLPNO) methods have been implemented within the correlation consistent composite approach (ccCA) framework, namely DLPNO-ccCA, to reduce the computational cost (disk space, CPU (central processing unit) time, memory) and predict energetic properties such as enthalpies of formation, noncovalent interactions, and conformation energies for organic biomolecular complexes including one of the largest molecules examined via composite strategies, within 1 kcal mol^-1 , after calibration with 119 molecules and a set of linear alkanes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Solv-ccCA: Implicit Solvation and the Correlation Consistent Composite Approach for the Determination of pKa

Direct theoretical methods are advantageous for the prediction of pKa, as relative methods rely upon the experimental values of reference acid molecules that can limit application of the method to well-characterized systems. Here, a direct route is introduced, which incorporates the SMD universal solvation model1 within the correlation consistent Composite Approach (ccCA). This Solv-ccCA methodology has been used for the prediction of theoretical pKa values for nitrogen-containing species to within a mean absolute deviation (MAD) of 1.0 pKa unit from experimental values by utilizing a thermodynamic cycle that combines gas-phase and solution-phase calculations. Several density functionals, including B3LYP, B97-1, B97-2, B98, BMK, M06, and M06-2X, were also evaluated for use with SMD and for comparison to Solv-ccCA.

Explicitly Correlated Methods within the ccCA Methodology

The prediction of energetic properties within "chemical accuracy" (1 kcal mol(-1) from well-established experiment) can be a major challenge in computational quantum chemistry due to the computational requirements (computer time, memory, and disk space) needed to achieve this level of accuracy. Methodologies such as coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T)) combined with very large basis sets are often required to reach this level of accuracy. Unfortunately, such calculations quickly become cost prohibitive as system size increases. Our group has developed an ab initio composite method, the correlation consistent Composite Approach (ccCA), which enables such accuracy to be possible, on average, but at reduced computational cost as compared with CCSD(T) in combination with a large basis set. While ccCA has proven quite useful, computational bottlenecks still occur. In this study, the means to reduce the computational cost of ccCA without compromising accuracy by utilizing explicitly correlated methods within ccCA have been considered, and an alternative formulation is described.