•Two theoretical methods are combined to make predictions on a molecule of interest in astrochemistry and related fields.•A Cooper minimum in photoionization cross sections is predicted.•Hybridization is important in several diffuse Dyson orbitals that correspond to addition of electrons to CaH+ to form highly excited states of CaH.In this work, electron-propagator methods are applied to the calculation of the ionization potential and vertical excitation energies for several Rydberg series of the CaH molecule. The present calculations cover more highly excited states than those previously reported. In particular, excitation energies for ns (n>5), np (n>5), nd (n>4) and nf Rydberg states are given. Oscillator strengths for electronic transitions involving Rydberg states of CaH, as well as photoionization cross sections for Rydberg channels, also have been determined by using the Molecular Quantum Defect Orbital approach. Good agreement has been found with the scarce comparative data that are available for oscillator strengths. To our knowledge, predictions of photoionization cross sections from the outermost orbital of CaH are made here for the first time. A Cooper minimum and mixed atomic orbital character in some of the Dyson orbitals are among the novel features of these present calculations.

Comparison of ab initio electron-propagator predictions of vertical ionization potentials and electron affinities of organic, acceptor molecules with benchmark calculations based on the basis set-extrapolated, coupled cluster single, double, and perturbative triple substitution method has enabled identification of self-energy approximations with mean, unsigned errors between 0.1 and 0.2 eV. Among the self-energy approximations that neglect off-diagonal elements in the canonical, Hartree–Fock orbital basis, the P3 method for electron affinities, and the P3+ method for ionization potentials provide the best combination of accuracy and computational efficiency. For approximations that consider the full self-energy matrix, the NR2 methods offer the best performance. The P3+ and NR2 methods successfully identify the correct symmetry label of the lowest cationic state in two cases, naphthalenedione and benzoquinone, where some other methods fail.

The Outer Valence Green Function (OVGF) and coupled-cluster singles and doubles plus approximate triples, or CCSD(T), methods yield similar results for the vertical detachment energies of superhalides studied recently by Li et al. The success of the OVGF method contradicts claims by Li et al. in their recent article.

Two accurate and computationally efficient electron-propagator (EP) methods for calculating the valence, vertical ionization energies (VIEs) of closed–shell molecules have been identified through comparisons with related approximations. VIEs of a representative set of closed-shell molecules were calculated with EP methods using 10 basis sets. The most easily executed method, the diagonal, second-order (D2) EP approximation, produces results that steadily rise as basis sets are improved toward values based on extrapolated coupled-cluster singles and doubles plus perturbative triples calculations, but its mean errors remain unacceptably large. The outer valence Green function, partial third-order and renormalized partial third-order methods (P3+), which employ the diagonal self-energy approximation, produce markedly better results but have a greater tendency to overestimate VIEs with larger basis sets. The best combination of accuracy and efficiency with a diagonal self-energy matrix is the P3+ approximation, which exhibits the best trends with respect to basis-set saturation. Several renormalized methods with more flexible nondiagonal self-energies also have been examined: the two-particle, one-hole Tamm–Dancoff approximation (2ph-TDA), the third-order algebraic diagrammatic construction or ADC(3), the renormalized third-order (3+) method, and the nondiagonal second-order renormalized (NR2) approximation. Like D2, 2ph-TDA produces steady improvements with basis set augmentation, but its average errors are too large. Errors obtained with 3+ and ADC(3) are smaller on average than those of 2ph-TDA. These methods also have a greater tendency to overestimate VIEs with larger basis sets. The smallest average errors occur for the NR2 approximation; these errors decrease steadily with basis augmentations. As basis sets approach saturation, NR2 becomes the most accurate and efficient method with a nondiagonal self-energy.

The performance of several direct and indirect computational strategies for the calculation of the first ionization energies (IEs) of free radicals and adiabatic detachment energies of their anions has been tested using experimental data as references. The outer valence Green’s function and the partial third-order approximations, which are based on electron propagator theory, have been identified as the most accurate. They were in turn used to estimate the IEs of a large set of free radicals for which these data have not been previously reported. The calculated data also have been used to assess the possible oxidation of nucleosides by these radicals, as well as the potential, antioxidant-protection effects of phenol, catechol, ascorbic acid, and Trolox in their neutral and deprotonated forms, via electron transfer.

Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and electron propagator theory (EPT) are used to calculate the electronic transition energies and ionization energies, respectively, of species containing phosphorus or sulfur. The accuracy of TD-DFT and EPT, in conjunction with various basis sets, is assessed with data from gas-phase spectroscopy. TD-DFT is tested using 11 prominent exchange-correlation functionals on a set of 37 vertical and 19 adiabatic transitions. For vertical transitions, TD-CAM-B3LYP calculations performed with the MG3S basis set are lowest in overall error, having a mean absolute deviation from experiment of 0.22 eV, or 0.23 eV over valence transitions and 0.21 eV over Rydberg transitions. Using a larger basis set, aug-pc3, improves accuracy over the valence transitions via hybrid functionals, but improved accuracy over the Rydberg transitions is only obtained via the BMK functional. For adiabatic transitions, all hybrid functionals paired with the MG3S basis set perform well, and B98 is best, with a mean absolute deviation from experiment of 0.09 eV. The testing of EPT used the Outer Valence Green’s Function (OVGF) approximation and the Partial Third Order (P3) approximation on 37 vertical first ionization energies. It is found that OVGF outperforms P3 when basis sets of at least triple-ζ quality in the polarization functions are used. The largest basis set used in this study, aug-pc3, obtained the best mean absolute error from both methods -0.08 eV for OVGF and 0.18 eV for P3. The OVGF/6-31+G(2df,p) level of theory is particularly cost-effective, yielding a mean absolute error of 0.11 eV.

Structures, isomerization energies, and electron binding energies of 5-azauracil and its anions have been calculated ab initio with perturbative, coupled-cluster, and electron-propagator methods. Tautomeric structures, including those produced by proton transfer to a CH group, have been considered. Dyson orbitals and pole strengths from electron-propagator calculations validated a simple, molecular-orbital picture of anion formation. In one case, an electron may enter a delocalized π orbital, yielding a valence-bound (VB) anion with a puckered ring structure. The corresponding electron affinity is 0.27 eV; the vertical electron detachment energy (VEDE) of this anion 1.05 eV. An electron also may enter a molecular orbital that lies outside the nuclear framework, resulting in a diffuse-bound (DB) anion. In the latter case, the electron affinity is 0.06 eV and the VEDE of the DB anion is 0.09 eV. Another VB isomer that is only 0.02 eV more stable than the neutral molecule has a VEDE of 2.0 eV.

Electron propagator calculations in two approximations—the third-order algebraic, diagrammatic construction and the outer valence Green’s function (OVGF)—have been performed on the vertical electron affinities of C60 and the vertical electron detachment energies of several states of C60– with a variety of basis sets. These calculations predict bound 2T1u and 2T1g anions, but fail to produce 2T2u or 2Hg anionic states that are more stable than ground-state C60. The electron affinity for the 2Ag state is close to zero, but no definitive result on its sign has been obtained. This state may be a resonance or marginally bound anion. The OVGF prediction for the vertical electron detachment energy of 2T1u C60–, 2.63 eV, is in excellent agreement with recent anion photoelectron spectra.

We report the photoelectron spectrum of the 6-azauracil anion. The spectrum is dominated by a broad band exhibiting a maximum at an electron binding energy (EBE) of 1.2 eV. This spectral pattern is indicative of a valence anion. Our calculations were carried out using ab initio electron propagator and other many-body methods. Comparison of the anion and corresponding neutral of 6-azauracil with those of uracil shows that substituting a nitrogen atom for C–H at the C6 position of uracil gives rise to significant changes in the electronic structure of 6-azauracil versus that of uracil. The adiabatic electron affinity (AEA) of the canonical 6-azauracil tautomer is substantially larger than that of canonical uracil. Among the five tautomeric, 6-azauracil anions studied computationally, the canonical structure was found to be the most stable. The vertical detachment energies (VDE) of the canonical, valence-bound anion of 6-azauracil and its closest “very-rare” tautomer have been calculated. Electron propagator calculations on the canonical anion yield a VDE value that is in close agreement with the experimentally determined VDE value of 1.2 eV. The AEA value of 6-azauracil, assessed at the CCSD(T) level of theory to be 0.5 eV, corresponds with the EBE value of the onset of the experimental spectrum.

The CBS-QB3 and G4 thermochemical models have been used to generate energetic, structural, and spectroscopic data on a set of molecules with trivalent or pentavalent phosphorus atoms that can serve as simulants of chemical warfare agents. Based on structural data, the conformational stabilities of these molecules are explained in terms of the anomeric interaction within the OPOC and OPSC fragments. For those cases where experimental data are available, comparisons have been made between calculated and previously reported vibrational frequencies. All varieties of bond dissociation energies have been examined except those for C—H and P═O bonds. In trivalent phosphorus molecules, the O—C and S—C bonds have the lowest dissociation energies. In the pentavalent phosphorus set, the S—C bonds, followed by P—S bonds, have the lowest dissociation energies. In the fluorinated simulant molecules, the P—F bond is strongest, and the P—C or O—C bonds are weakest.

A computational study of the kinetics of isomerization and elimination reactions of organophosphorus and organosulfur reactions is presented with a view to characterizing the predictive capabilities of widely applied techniques for processes that pertain to the destruction of chemical warfare agents. A set of 22 reactions has been studied, and the results have been compared to experimentally derived data. The BMK functional and the MG3S basis set have been used to compute minimum energy paths. Corrections have been added from CBS-QB3, CASSCF, and CASMP2 calculations. Thermal rate constants at experimental temperatures have been calculated with canonical variational transition state theory and small-curvature tunneling theory. The quality of these results may depend on recrossing of the variational transition state, the amount of radical or diradical character found in the minimum energy paths, or the accuracy of barrier heights.

The Gaussian-n, complete basis set, and Weizmann-1 quantum chemical models for heats of formation are applied to a set of molecules with relevance to the combustion or pyrolysis of chemical warfare materials. Most of these models generate standard deviations from experiment that are less than 2 kcal/mol. The structures and vibrational frequencies that are generated in the course of these calculations are in good agreement with experimental data. Detailed comparisons with respect to structural types indicate that the present computational models are likely to generate useful data for complex models of combustion and pyrolysis of chemical warfare materials.

Vertical ionization energies of 9-H adenine and 9-methyl adenine have been calculated with the following, ab initio, electron propagator methods: the outer valence Green’s function (OVGF), partial third-order theory (P3), and the third-order algebraic diagrammatic construction, or ADC(3). Basis set effects have been systematically examined. All methods predict near degeneracy in the π2−n1 and π3−n2 pairs of cationic, adenine final states and larger splittings of the corresponding, cationic states of 9-methyl adenine. P3 results for adenine predict the following order of the first six final states: π1, n1, π2, n2, π3, n3. Coupled-cluster calculations on the first three cationic states of adenine confirm these predictions. OVGF and ADC(3) calculations reverse the order of the second and third states and of the fourth and fifth states. All results confirm previous interpretations of experiments in which the second and third spectral bands correspond to the aforementioned pairs of final states and disagree with a recent reassignment based on time-resolved photoelectron spectra. Lower ionization energies and larger splittings in the methylated molecule are interpreted in terms of phase relationships in the Dyson orbitals. ADC(3) results confirm the qualitative validity of the one-electron approximation for the first six final states of both molecules and disclose its inadequacies for higher ionization energies.

The Outer Valence Green Function (OVGF) and coupled-cluster singles and doubles plus approximate triples, or CCSD(T), methods yield similar results for the vertical detachment energies of superhalides studied recently by Li et al. The success of the OVGF method contradicts claims by Li et al. in their recent article.