Basis Set Truncation Error Research Articles

Insight on Gaussian Basis Set Truncation Errors in Weak to Intermediate Magnetic Fields with an Approximate Hamiltonian.

Strong magnetic fields such as those found on white dwarfs have significant effects on the electronic structures of atoms and molecules. However, the vast majority of molecular studies in the literature in such fields are carried out with Gaussian basis sets designed for zero field, leading to large basis set truncation errors [Lehtola et al., Mol. Phys. 2020, 118, e1597989]. In this work, we aim to identify the failures of the Gaussian basis sets in atomic calculations to guide the design of new basis sets for strong magnetic fields. We achieve this by performing fully numerical electronic structure calculations at the complete basis set (CBS) limit for the ground state and low lying excited states of the atoms 1 ≤ Z ≤ 18 in weak to intermediate magnetic fields. We also carry out finite-field calculations for a variety of Gaussian basis sets, introducing a real-orbital approximation for the magnetic-field Hamiltonian. Our primary focus is on the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set, which has been used in many works in the literature. A study of the differences in total energies of the fully numerical CBS limit calculations and the approximate Gaussian basis calculations is carried out to provide insight into basis set truncation errors. Examining a variety of states over the range of magnetic field strengths from B = 0 to B = 0.6B0, we observe significant differences for the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set, while much smaller errors are afforded by the benchmark-quality AHGBSP3-9 basis set [Lehtola, J. Chem. Phys. 2020, 152, 134108]. This suggests that there is considerable room to improve Gaussian basis sets for calculations at finite magnetic fields.

Meta-GGA Density Functional Calculations on Atoms with Spherically Symmetric Densities in the Finite Element Formalism.

Density functional calculations on atoms are often used for determining accurate initial guesses as well as generating various types of pseudopotential approximations and efficient atomic-orbital basis sets for polyatomic calculations. To reach the best accuracy for these purposes, the atomic calculations should employ the same density functional as the polyatomic calculation. Atomic density functional calculations are typically carried out employing spherically symmetric densities, corresponding to the use of fractional orbital occupations. We have described their implementation for density functional approximations (DFAs) belonging to the local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) levels of theory as well as Hartree-Fock (HF) and range-separated exact exchange [Lehtola, S. Phys. Rev. A 2020, 101, 012516]. In this work, we describe the extension to meta-GGA functionals using the generalized Kohn-Sham scheme, in which the energy is minimized with respect to the orbitals, which in turn are expanded in the finite element formalism with high-order numerical basis functions. Furnished with the new implementation, we continue our recent work on the numerical well-behavedness of recent meta-GGA functionals [Lehtola, S.; Marques, M. A. L. J. Chem. Phys. 2022, 157, 174114]. We pursue complete basis set (CBS) limit energies for recent density functionals and find many to be ill-behaved for the Li and Na atoms. We report basis set truncation errors (BSTEs) of some commonly used Gaussian basis sets for these density functionals and find the BSTEs to be strongly functional dependent. We also discuss the importance of density thresholding in DFAs and find that all of the functionals studied in this work yield total energies converged to 0.1 μEh when densities smaller than 10-11a0-3 are screened out.

The Basis Set Truncation Error Revisited: Comparison of Multiwavelet and Gaussian Basis Sets for Computing Properties from First Principles

The Basis Set Truncation Error Revisited: Comparison of Multiwavelet and Gaussian Basis Sets for Computing Properties from First Principles

How accurate are approximate quantum chemical methods at modelling solute-solvent interactions in solvated clusters?

In this paper, the performance of a wide range of DFT methods is assessed for the calculation of interaction energies of thermal clusters of a solute in water. Three different charge states (neutral, proton transfer transition state and zwitterion) of glycine were solvated by 1 to 40 water molecules as sampled from molecular dynamics simulations. While some ab initio composite methods that employ insufficiently large basis sets incurred significant errors even for a cluster containing only 5 water molecules relative to the W1X-2 benchmark, the DLPNO-CCSD(T)/CBS and DSD-PBEP86 (triple zeta basis set) levels of theory predicted very accurate interaction energies. These levels of theory were used to benchmark the performance of 16 density functionals from different rungs of Jacob's Ladder. Of the Rung 4 functionals examined, the ωB97M-V and ωB97X-V functionals stood out for predicting absolute interaction energies in 40-water clusters with mean absolute deviations (MAD) ∼4 kJ mol-1. The B3LYP-D3(BJ) functional performed exceptionally well with a MAD ∼1.7 kJ mol-1 and is the overall best performing method. Calculations of relative interaction energies allow for cancellation of systematic errors, including basis set truncation and superposition errors, and the ωB97M-V and B3LYP-D3(BJ) double zeta basis set calculations yielded relative interaction energies that are within ∼3 kJ mol-1 of the benchmark. The ONIOM approximation provides another strategy for accelerating the calculation of accurate absolute interaction energies provided that the calculations have converged with respect to the size of the "high-level-layer".

Fully numerical electronic structure calculations on diatomic molecules in weak to strong magnetic fields

ABSTRACT We present fully numerical electronic structure calculations on diatomic molecules exposed to an external magnetic field at the unrestricted Hartree–Fock limit, using a modified version of a recently developed finite-element programme, HelFEM. We have performed benchmark calculations on a few low-lying states of H, HeH, LiH, BeH, BH and CH as a function of the strength of an external magnetic field parallel to the molecular axis. The employed magnetic fields are in the range of atomic units, where T. We have compared the results of the fully numerical calculations to ones obtained with the LONDON code using a large uncontracted gauge-including Cartesian Gaussian (GICG) basis set with exponents adopted from the Dunning aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. By comparison to the fully numerical results, we find that the basis set truncation error (BSTE) in the GICG basis is of the order of 1 kcal/mol at zero field, that the BSTE grows rapidly in increasing magnetic field strength, and that the largest BSTE at exceeds 1000 kcal/mol. Studies in larger Gaussian-basis sets suggest that reliable results can be obtained in GICG basis sets at fields stronger than , provided that enough higher-angular-momentum functions are included in the basis.

Density Functional Theory and the Basis Set Truncation Problem with Correlation Consistent Basis Sets: Elephant in the Room or Mouse in the Closet?

Two recent papers in this journal called into question the suitability of the correlation consistent basis sets for density functional theory (DFT) calculations, because the sets were designed for correlated methods such as configuration interaction, perturbation theory, and coupled cluster theory. These papers focused on the ability of the correlation consistent and other basis sets to reproduce total energies, atomization energies, and dipole moments obtained from "quasi-exact" multiwavelet results. Undesirably large errors were observed for the correlation consistent basis sets. One of the papers argued that basis sets specifically optimized for DFT methods were "essential" for obtaining high accuracy. In this work we re-examined the performance of the correlation consistent basis sets by resolving problems with the previous calculations and by making more appropriate basis set choices for the alkali and alkaline-earth metals and second-row elements. When this is done, the statistical errors with respect to the benchmark values and with respect to DFT optimized basis sets are greatly reduced, especially in light of the relatively large intrinsic error of the underlying DFT method. When judged with respect to high-quality Feller-Peterson-Dixon coupled cluster theory atomization energies, the PBE0 DFT method used in the previous studies exhibits a mean absolute deviation more than a factor of 50 larger than the quintuple zeta basis set truncation error.

Estimating the intrinsic limit of the Feller-Peterson-Dixon composite approach when applied to adiabatic ionization potentials in atoms and small molecules

Benchmark adiabatic ionization potentials were obtained with the Feller-Peterson-Dixon (FPD) theoretical method for a collection of 48 atoms and small molecules. In previous studies, the FPD method demonstrated an ability to predict atomization energies (heats of formation) and electron affinities well within a 95% confidence level of ±1 kcal/mol. Large 1-particle expansions involving correlation consistent basis sets (up to aug-cc-pV8Z in many cases and aug-cc-pV9Z for some atoms) were chosen for the valence CCSD(T) starting point calculations. Despite their cost, these large basis sets were chosen in order to help minimize the residual basis set truncation error and reduce dependence on approximate basis set limit extrapolation formulas. The complementary n-particle expansion included higher order CCSDT, CCSDTQ, or CCSDTQ5 (coupled cluster theory with iterative triple, quadruple, and quintuple excitations) corrections. For all of the chemical systems examined here, it was also possible to either perform explicit full configuration interaction (CI) calculations or to otherwise estimate the full CI limit. Additionally, corrections associated with core/valence correlation, scalar relativity, anharmonic zero point vibrational energies, non-adiabatic effects, and other minor factors were considered. The root mean square deviation with respect to experiment for the ionization potentials was 0.21 kcal/mol (0.009 eV). The corresponding level of agreement for molecular enthalpies of formation was 0.37 kcal/mol and for electron affinities 0.20 kcal/mol. Similar good agreement with experiment was found in the case of molecular structures and harmonic frequencies. Overall, the combination of energetic, structural, and vibrational data (655 comparisons) reflects the consistent ability of the FPD method to achieve close agreement with experiment for small molecules using the level of theory applied in this study.

Ab initio investigation of sulfur monofluoride and its singly charged cation and anion in their ground electronic state**Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11304023 and 11447172), the Young and Middle-Aged Talent of Education Burea of Hubei Province, China (Grant No. Q20151307), and the Yangtze Youth Talents Fund of Yangtze University, China (Grant No. 2015cqr21).

The SF radical and its singly charged cation and anion, SF+ and SF−, have been investigated on the MRCI/aug-cc-pVXZ (X = Q, 5, 6) levels of theory with Davidson correction. Both the core–valence correlation and the relativistic effect are considered. The extrapolating to the complete basis set (CBS) limit is adopted to remove the basis set truncation error. Geometrical parameters, potential energy curves (PECs), vibrational energy levels, spectroscopic constants, ionization potentials, and electron affinities of the ground electronic state for all these species are obtained. The information with respect to molecular characteristics of the SFn (n = −1, 0, +1) systems derived in this work will help to extend our knowledge and to guide further experimental or theoretical researches.

Application of a convergent, composite coupled cluster approach to bound state, adiabatic electron affinities in atoms and small molecules.

Benchmark quality adiabatic electron affinities for a collection of atoms and small molecules were obtained with the Feller-Peterson-Dixon composite coupled cluster theory method. Prior applications of this method demonstrated its ability to accurately predict atomization energies/heats of formation for more than 170 molecules. In the current work, the 1-particle expansion involved very large correlation consistent basis sets, ranging up to aug-cc-pV9Z (aug-cc-pV10Z for H and H2), with the goal of minimizing the residual basis set truncation error that must otherwise be approximated with extrapolation formulas. The n-particle expansion begins with coupled cluster calculations through iterative single and double excitations plus a quasiperturbative treatment of "connected" triple excitations (CCSD(T)) pushed to the complete basis set limit followed by CCSDT, CCSDTQ, or CCSDTQ5 corrections. Due to the small size of the systems examined here, it was possible in many cases to extend the n-particle expansion to the full configuration interaction wave function limit. Additional, smaller corrections associated with core/valence correlation, scalar relativity, anharmonic zero point vibrational energies, and non-adiabatic effects were also included. The overall root mean square (RMS) deviation was 0.005 eV (0.12 kcal/mol). This level of agreement was comparable to what was found with molecular heats of formation. A 95% confidence level corresponds to roughly twice the RMS value or 0.01 eV. While the atomic electron affinities are known experimentally to high accuracy, the molecular values are less certain. This contributes to the difficulty of gauging the accuracy of the theoretical results. A limited number of electron affinities were determined with the explicitly correlated CCSD(T)-F12b method. After extending the VnZ-F12 orbital basis sets with additional diffuse functions, the F12b method was found to accurately reproduce the best F/F(-) value obtained with standard methods, but it underestimated the CH3/CH3 (-) value by 0.01 eV.

An ab initio investigation on the ground electronic state of chlorine monoxide and its singly charged cation and anion

The MRCI method has been utilized to calculate the equilibrium structure of the ground electronic state for the ClO radical and its singly charged cation and anion, ClO+ and ClO−. The augmented correlation-consistent basis sets up through sextuple-zeta quality are used to derive equilibrium structural parameters, potential energy curves and spectroscopic constants of the systems. Two extrapolating schemes enable us to remove the basis set truncation error and to estimate the complete basis set limit. Corrections of core-valence correlation and relativistic effect are included in our calculations. By solving the radial Schrödinger equation of nuclear motion, the vibrational energy levels as well as rotational and centrifugal distortion constants of the ground electronic states for the three species are obtained. Ionization potentials and the electron affinities are also obtained on the RCCSD(T)/AV6Z level. The knowledge extracted from this work are anticipated to extend our understanding on molecular characteristics of the ClOn (n=−1, 0, +1) systems and can serve as guidelines for further experimental or theoretical researches.

The Coulson–Fischer wave functions for the ground and excited states of H2 and HeH+: parametrisation using distributed Gaussian basis sets

Coulson–Fischer wave functions are used to determine complete potential energy curves for the X1Σ+g ground state of the H2 molecule and for the first excited state (EF1Σ+g) having the same symmetry. The Coulson–Fischer orbitals are parametrised by expansion in distributed Gaussian basis sets of s-type functions. The exponents of the Gaussian functions are generated by using an even-tempered prescription. An anharmonic model is used to locate the basis functions along the internuclear axis. Sequences of basis sets are used to reduce the basis set truncation error to the sub-μhartree level. Equations are derived to determine the generalised Coulson–Fischer orbitals for the excited state which ensure that orthogonality conditions with respect to the ground state are satisfied. Potential energy curves are also calculated using smaller basis sets for which both exponents and basis function positions are determined by invoking the variation principle. The results of calculations for the isoelectronic heteronuclear HeH+ ion are also reported. The potential energy curves obtained in the present study are compared with literature values for both H2 and HeH+.

Accurate non-covalent interactions with basis-set corrections from interference-corrected perturbation theory: comparison with the S22B database

Non-covalent interactions can usually be described accurately at the coupled-cluster level of theory using single, double and triple excitations, the latter within a perturbation-theory framework. However, since the computations with the corresponding coupled-cluster model, CCSD(T), are computationally very demanding, they can often not be carried out in large enough basis sets. This leads to a basis-set truncation error. To correct this error, a basis-set correction can be computed at the level of second-order Møller–Plesset (MP2) perturbation theory in the limit of a complete basis set, but such a correction tends to overestimate the magnitude of the basis-set truncation error. In the present work, we suggest to damp the basis-set correction obtained at the complete-basis-set MP2 level using interference factors for individual occupied orbital pairs. The approach is applied to the non-covalent interactions of the S22B database, where the interference correction turns out to be very small.

Simulating strongly correlated multiparticle systems in a truncated Hilbert space

Representing a strongly interacting multi-particle wave function in a finite product basis leads to errors. Simple rescaling of the contact interaction can preserve the low-lying energy spectrum and long-wavelength structure of wave functions in one-dimensional systems and thus correct for the basis set truncation error. The analytic form of the rescaling is found for a two-particle system where the rescaling is exact. Detailed comparison between finite Hilbert space calculations and exact results for up to 5 particles show that rescaling can significantly improve the accuracy of numerical calculations in various external potentials. In addition to ground state energies, the low-lying excitation spectrum, density profile and correlation functions are studied. The results give a promising outlook for numerical simulations of trapped ultracold atoms.

Interference-corrected explicitly-correlated second-order perturbation theory

In the complete-basis-set (CBS) model chemistries, an interference correction is added to the total energy. It is added because the CBS-type extrapolation to the basis-set limit of second-order Møller–Plesset (MP2) perturbation theory usually overestimates the magnitude of the basis-set truncation error at higher levels of electron-correlation treatment. In this Letter, the question is pursued whether the CBS-type interference correction could also improve the computational results when the MP2 basis set limit is approached by means of explicitly-correlated MP2 theory using Slater-type geminals.

Quantum Chemical Modeling of Benzene Ethylation over H-ZSM-5 Approaching Chemical Accuracy: A Hybrid MP2:DFT Study

The alkylation of benzene by ethene over H-ZSM-5 is analyzed by means of a hybrid MP2:DFT scheme. Density functional calculations applying periodic boundary conditions (PBE functional) are combined with MP2 energy calculations on a series of cluster models of increasing size which allows extrapolation to the periodic MP2 limit. Basis set truncation errors are estimated by extrapolation of the MP2 energy to the complete basis set limit. Contributions from higher-order correlation effects are accounted for by CCSD(T) coupled cluster calculations. The sum of all contributions provides the "final estimates" for adsorption energies and energy barriers. Dispersion contributes significantly to the potential energy surface. As a result, the MP2:DFT potential energy profile is shifted downward compared to the PBE profile. More importantly, this shift is not the same for reactants and transition structures due to different self-interaction correction errors. The final enthalpies for ethene, benzene, and ethylbenzene adsorption on the Brønsted acid site at 298 K are -46, -78, and -110 kJ/mol, respectively. The intrinsic enthalpy barriers at 653 K are 117 and 119/94 kJ/mol for the one- and two-step alkylation, respectively. Intrinsic rate coefficients calculated by means of transition state theory are converted to apparent Arrhenius parameters by means of the multicomponent adsorption equilibrium. The simulated apparent activation energy (66 kJ/mol) agrees with experimental data (58-76 kJ/mol) within the uncertainty limit of the calculations. Adsorption energies obtained by adding a damped dispersion term to the PBE energies (PBE+D), agree within +/-7 kJ/mol, with the "final estimates", except for physisorption (pi-complex formation) and chemisorption of ethene (ethoxide formation) for which the PBE+D energies are 12.4 and 26.0 kJ/mol, respectively larger than the "final estimates". For intrinsic energy barriers, the PBE+D approach does not improve pure PBE results.

Explicitly correlated combined coupled-cluster and perturbation methods

Coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) or coupled-cluster singles, doubles, and triples (CCSDT) with noniterative, perturbation corrections for higher-order excitations have been extended to include the basis functions that explicitly depend on interelectronic distances (r(12)) in the wave function expansions with the aim of dramatically accelerating the basis-set convergence of correlation energies. The extension has been based on the so-called R12 (or F12) scheme and applied to a second-order triples correction to CCSD [CCSD(2)(T)-R12], a second-order triples and quadruples correction to CCSD [CCSD(2)(TQ)-R12], a third-order triples correction to CCSD [CCSD(3)(T)-R12], and a second-order quadruples correction to CCSDT [CCSDT(2)(Q)-R12]. A simplified R12 treatment suggested by Fliegl et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 122, 084107 (2005)] has been combined with some of these methods, introducing CCSD(2)(T)(R12) and CCSD(2)(TQ)(R12). The CCSD(T)-R12 method has also been developed as an approximation to CCSD(2)(T)-R12. These methods have been applied to dissociation of hydrogen fluoride and double dissociation of water. For the molecules at their equilibrium geometries, molecular properties predicted by these methods converge extremely rapidly toward the complete-correlation, complete-basis-set limits with respect to the cluster excitation rank, perturbation order, and basis-set size. Although the R12 scheme employed in this work does not improve the basis-set convergence of connected triples or quadruples corrections, the basis-set truncation errors in these contributions have roughly the same magnitude as small residual basis-set truncation errors in the connected singles and doubles contributions even in the dissociation of hydrogen fluoride. In the double dissociation of water, the basis-set truncation errors in the connected triples contribution can be a few times as great as those in the connected singles and doubles contributions.

Benchmark calculations for molecules in the gas phase: State‐of‐the‐art coupled‐cluster computations

AbstractImplementation of very accurate ab initio methods on the one hand and improvements in computer facilities on the other hand allow the determination of structural, thermochemical, and spectroscopic properties of small‐ to medium‐sized molecules to a very high accuracy. The predictive capabilities have become so high that theoretical calculations can guide, support, and even challenge experimental determinations. Therefore, nowadays ab initio calculations are suitable for benchmarking purposes, even for quite large systems. To perform benchmark calculations, highly correlated methods, such as the coupled cluster ones, should be employed in conjunction with extrapolative and additive techniques to account for basis set and wave function truncation errors as well as to include important corrections, such as those related to core correlation and relativistic effects. Some illustrative examples are presented. The comparison of the computed data with experimental results allows us to show how quantum‐chemical computations are able to either accurately predict experimental data or cast doubts on them. Perspectives for extension of extrapolation techniques to the structures and properties of open‐shell systems with an effectiveness and reliability comparable with that well documented for closed‐shell systems are also discussed. Finally, perspectives for wider application of benchmark calculations are addressed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010

Atomization energies from coupled-cluster calculations augmented with explicitly-correlated perturbation theory

The atomization energies of the 105 molecules in the test set of Bakowies [D. Bakowies, J. Chem. Phys. 127 (2007) 084105] have been computed with an estimated standard deviation (from the values compiled in the Active Thermochemical Tables) of ±0.1kJ/mol per valence electron in the molecule. Equilibrium geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies were calculated at the all-electron CCSD(T)/cc-pCVTZ level, that is, at the level of coupled-cluster theory with singles, doubles and non-iterative triples in a correlation-consistent polarized core–valence triple-zeta basis. Single-point energy calculations were performed at the all-electron CCSD(T) level in a correlation-consistent polarized core–valence quadruple-zeta basis (cc-pCVQZ), and several corrections were added: (i) a correction for the basis-set truncation error, obtained from second-order perturbation theory using Slater-type geminals (MP2-F12 theory), (ii) a correction for the effect of anharmonicity on the zero-point vibrational energy, (iii) a relativistic correction, (iv) a correction for the difference between the full CCSDT model (coupled-cluster theory with singles, doubles and triples) and the CCSD(T) approximation, and (v) a correction for connected quadruple excitations obtained from CCSDT(Q) calculations. The correction for the basis-set truncation error was obtained from MP2-F12 calculations by scaling the MP2 basis-set truncation error by an empirically optimized “interference factor” of fint=0.78. The reference values from the Active Thermochemical Tables for 73 molecules in the test set, the equilibrium geometries, the harmonic vibrational frequencies, and all of the energy corrections represent valuable data for performance assessments of additivity schemes that will be developed in the future, in which the basis-set truncation error will be calculated at the level of coupled-cluster theory using Slater-type geminals (CC-F12 theory). Such a scheme will be free of empirical corrections and scaling factors.

Uniformly convergent n-tuple-ζ augmented polarized (nZaP) basis sets for complete basis set extrapolations. I. Self-consistent field energies

We present a sequence of n-tuple-zeta augmented polarized (nZaP) basis sets designed for extrapolations of both self-consistent field (SCF) and correlation energies to the complete basis set (CBS) limit. These nZaP basis sets (n=2-6) are formulated to give consistent errors throughout the Periodic Table (e.g., a consistent of approximately 1 mhartree/electron error for the 2ZaP SCF energy and a consistent of approximately 1.4 muhartree/electron error for the 6ZaP SCF energy). The SCF energy exhibits systematic convergence to the CBS limit: E(SCF)(nZaP) approximately E(SCF)(CBS)+Ae(-an). A single parameter, a=6.30, describes the 2ZaP through 6ZaP errors of H through Xe within 10%. The SCF rms basis set truncation errors of H through Xe are 33.5mE(h), 4.58mE(h), 0.82mE(h), 0.18mE(h), and 0.047mE(h) for 2ZaP, 3ZaP, 4ZaP, 5ZaP, and 6ZaP, respectively. Linear extrapolations of the (2,3)ZaP, (3,4)ZaP, (4,5)ZaP, and (5,6)ZaP calculations (all with a=6.30) reduce these errors by an order of magnitude to 0.24mE(h), 0.056mE(h), 0.020mE(h), and 0.005mE(h), respectively. A test set of 34 atoms, ions, and molecules gives similar results, and the associated test set of 25 chemical energy differences also gives comparable absolute accuracy. However, the cancellation of errors between reactant and product is lost by extrapolation. As a result, these chemical energy differences show a more modest two-to-fourfold improvement with extrapolation.

Accurate extrapolation of electron correlation energies from small basis sets

A new two-point scheme is proposed for the extrapolation of electron correlation energies obtained with small basis sets. Using the series of correlation-consistent polarized valence basis sets, cc-pVXZ, the basis set truncation error is expressed as deltaE(X) proportional, variant(X + xi(i))(-gamma). The angular momentum offset xi(i) captures differences in effective rates of convergence previously observed for first-row molecules. It is based on simple electron counts and tends to values close to 0 for hydrogen-rich compounds and values closer to 1 for pure first-row compounds containing several electronegative atoms. The formula is motivated theoretically by the structure of correlation-consistent basis sets which include basis functions up to angular momentum L = X-1 for hydrogen and helium and up to L = X for first-row atoms. It contains three parameters which are calibrated against a large set of 105 reference molecules (H, C, N, O, F) for extrapolations of MP2 and CCSD valence-shell correlation energies from double- and triple-zeta (DT) and triple- and quadruple-zeta (TQ) basis sets. The new model is shown to be three to five times more accurate than previous two-point schemes using a single parameter, and (TQ) extrapolations are found to reproduce a small set of available R12 reference data better than even (56) extrapolations using the conventional asymptotic limit formula deltaE(X) proportional, variantX(-3). Applications to a small selection of boron compounds and to neon show very satisfactory results as well. Limitations of the model are discussed.