Mixed Quantum/Classical Dynamics of Hydrogen Transfer Reactions

Abstract

This article presents the methodology we have developed for the simulation of hydrogen transfer reactions, including multiple proton transfer and proton-coupled electron transfer reactions. The central method discussed is molecular dynamics with quantum transitions (MDQT), which is a mixed quantum/classical surface hopping method that incorporates nonadiabatic transitions between the proton vibrational and/or electronic states. The advantages of MDQT are that it accurately describes branching processes (i.e., processes involving multiple pathways), is valid in the adiabatic and nonadiabatic limits and the intermediate regime, and provides real-time dynamical information. The multiconfigurational MDQT (MC-MDQT) method combines MDQT with an MC-SCF formulation of the vibrational modes for the simulation of processes involving multiple quantum modes (e.g., for multiple proton transfer reactions). MC-MDQT incorporates the significant correlation between the quantum modes in a computationally practical way and ...