Comparison of different theory models and basis sets for the calculation of FbC-M10Iso-Bn geometry and geometries of chlorin-imide and chlorin-isoimide isomeric pairs

Abstract

Various density functional theory (DFT) methods with different basis sets to predict the molecular geometry of FbC-M10Iso-Bn macrocycle, a chlorin-isoimide, are compared in this study. DFT methods, including M06-2X, B3LYP, LSDA, B3PW91, PBEPBE, and BPV86, are examined. Different basis sets, such as 6-31G*, 6-31+G (d, p), 6-311+G (d, p), 6-311++G (d, p), cc-PVDZ, cc-PVTZ, and cc-PVQZ are also considered. The examined hybrid DFT methods are in agreement with the geometry of X-ray crystallography available for comparison. B3LYP/cc-PVDZ level is particularly consistent with available X-ray crystallography in terms of predicting the geometries of FbC-M10Iso-Bn. Geometries of chlorin-imide and chlorin-isoimide isomeric pairs are described through B3LYP/cc-PVDZ method. The bond lengths of chlorin-isoimide, specifically C13–C14, C14–C15, and C2–C3, increase as bond overlap index decreases because of charge transfer. β-β bond lengths (C2–C3 bond lengths) with a three-substituent benzylcarbamoyl group also increase as bond overlap index decreases compared with other molecules. The bond lengths of chlorin-imide are smaller than those of chlorin-isoimide. Angles with β-β bond lengths, specifically C2–C3–C4 in ring A, also decrease with a three-substituent benzylcarbamoyl group; however, the angles in C1–C2–C3 increase. Potential energy on the surfaces of the chlorin-imide and chlorin-isoimide isomeric pairs is optimized by calculating the total and relative energies at B3LYP/cc-PVDZ level. Results indicate that chlorin-imides are more stable than chlorin-isoimides. Normal-coordinate structural decomposition shows that chlorin-imides exhibit greater deformation than chlorin-isoimides except for FbC-M10Iso-Ph.