Scalar Relativistic Computations of Nuclear Magnetic Shielding and g-Shifts with the Zeroth-Order Regular Approximation and Range-Separated Hybrid Density Functionals.

Abstract

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of NMR chemical shifts and molecular g tensors with Gaussian-type orbitals are implemented via second-order energy derivatives within the scalar relativistic zeroth order regular approximation (ZORA) framework. Nonhybrid functionals, standard (global) hybrids, and range-separated (Coulomb-attenuated, long-range corrected) hybrid functionals are tested. Origin invariance of the results is ensured by use of gauge-including atomic orbital (GIAO) basis functions. The new implementation in the NWChem quantum chemistry package is verified by calculations of nuclear shielding constants for the heavy atoms in HX (X = F, Cl, Br, I, At) and H2X (X = O, S, Se, Te, Po) and (125)Te chemical shifts in a number of tellurium compounds. The basis set and functional dependence of g-shifts is investigated for 14 radicals with light and heavy atoms. The problem of accurately predicting (19)F NMR shielding in UF6-nCln, n = 1-6, is revisited. The results are sensitive to approximations in the density functionals, indicating a delicate balance of DFT self-interaction vs correlation. For the uranium halides, the range-separated functionals are not clearly superior to global hybrids.