# 5.1.3. Computing a reaction path¶

Chemists are familiarized with the description of a chemical reaction as a continuous motion on certain path of the potential energy hypersurfaces connecting reactants with products. Those are considered minima in the hypersurface while an intermediate state known as the transition state would be a saddle point of higher energy. The height of the energy barrier separating reactants from products relates to the overall rate of reaction, the positions of the minima along the reaction coordinate give the equilibrium geometries of the species, and the relative energies relate to the thermodynamics of the process. All this is known as transition state theory.

The process to study a chemical reaction starts by obtaining proper geometries for reactants and products, follows by finding the position of the transition state, and finishes by computing as accurately as possible the relative energies relating the position of the species. To perform geometry optimizations searching for true minima in the potential energy surfaces (PES) is by now a well-established procedure (see Section 5.1.2). An stationary point in the PES is characterized by having all the first derivatives of the energy with respect to each one of the independent coordinates equal to zero and the second derivatives larger than zero. First-order saddle points, on the contrary, have their second derivatives lower than zero for one coordinate, that is, they are maxima along this coordinate. A transition state is defined as a saddle point having only one negative second derivative along the specific coordinate known as the reaction coordinate. To simplify the treatment a special set of coordinates known as normal coordinates is defined in a way that the matrix of second derivatives is diagonal. A transition state will have one negative value in the diagonal of such a matrix.

Finally once the reactant, product and transition state geometries have been established one could perform a Intrinsic Reaction Coordinate (IRC) analysis. This to find the energy profile of the reaction and also to establish that the found transition state is connected to the reactant and the product.

## 5.1.3.1. Studying a reaction¶

The localization of the transition state of a reaction is of importance in both a qualitative and quantitative description of the reaction mechanism and the thermodynamics of a reaction. In the following example we will locate the transition state of the proton transfer reaction between the two species in Figures 5.1.3.1 and 5.1.3.2. The example selected here is chosen to demonstrate the steps needed to find a transition state. For that sake we have limited our model to the SCF level of theory.

Figure 5.1.3.1 Reactant

Figure 5.1.3.2 Product

### 5.1.3.1.1. Reactant and product¶

The first step is to establish the two species in equilibrium. These calculations would constitute standard geometry optimizations with the input for the reactant

>>> Do while <<<

&Seward

Basis set
C.cc-pVDZ....
C1            -1.9385577715        0.0976565175        0.4007212526
C2            -2.4151209200       -0.0592579424        2.8519334864
C3             0.7343463765        0.0088689871       -0.7477660837
End of Basis
Basis set
H.cc-pVDZ....
H1            -4.3244501026        0.0091320829        3.6086029352
H2            -0.8591520071       -0.2642180524        4.1663142585
H3            -3.4743702487        0.3026128386       -0.9501874771
End of Basis
Basis set
O.cc-pVDZ....
O1             0.7692102769        0.1847569555       -3.0700425345
O2             2.4916838932       -0.2232135341        0.7607580753
End of Basis
End of input

>>> IF ( ITER = 1 ) <<<
&SCF
Core
Charge = -1
>>> ENDIF <<<
&SCF &End
LUMORB
Charge = -1

&Slapaf
Iterations = 20
>>> EndDo <<<


resulting in the following convergence pattern

                      Energy     Grad     Grad          Step           Estimated  Hessian Geom Hessian
Iter     Energy       Change     Norm      Max  Element  Max  Element  Final Energy Index Update Update

1   -265.09033194 0.00000000 0.091418 0.044965 nrc003 0.069275  nrc003 -265.09529138  0  RF(S)   None
2   -265.09646330-0.00613136 0.020358 0.008890 nrc003 0.040393  nrc008 -265.09684474  0  RF(S)   BFGS
3   -265.09693242-0.00046912 0.011611-0.005191 nrc001 0.079285  nrc016 -265.09709856  0  RF(S)   BFGS
4   -265.09655626 0.00037616 0.020775-0.010792 nrc016-0.070551  nrc016 -265.09706324  0  RF(S)   BFGS
5   -265.09706308-0.00050682 0.003309-0.001628 nrc003-0.010263  nrc017 -265.09707265  0  RF(S)   BFGS
6   -265.09707056-0.00000747 0.000958-0.000450 nrc011 0.017307  nrc017 -265.09707924  0  RF(S)   BFGS
7   -265.09706612 0.00000444 0.002451 0.001148 nrc003-0.011228  nrc018 -265.09706837  0  RF(S)   BFGS
8   -265.09707550-0.00000938 0.000516 0.000220 nrc001-0.004017  nrc014 -265.09707591  0  RF(S)   BFGS
9   -265.09707586-0.00000036 0.000286 0.000104 nrc001 0.002132  nrc017 -265.09707604  0  RF(S)   BFGS


and for the product the input

>>> Do while <<<

&Seward

Basis set
C.cc-pVDZ....
C1            -2.0983667072        0.1000525724        0.5196668948
C2            -2.1177298783       -0.0920244467        3.0450747772
C3             0.5639781563        0.0024463770       -0.5245225314
End of Basis
Basis set
H.cc-pVDZ....
H1            -3.8870548756       -0.0558560582        4.1138131865
H2            -0.4133953535       -0.2946498869        4.2050068095
H3            -1.3495534119        0.3499572533       -3.3741881412
End of Basis
Basis set
O.cc-pVDZ....
O1             0.5100106099        0.2023808294       -3.0720173949
O2             2.5859515474       -0.2102046338        0.4795705925
End of Basis
End of input

>>> IF ( ITER = 1 ) <<<
&SCF
Core
Charge = -1
>>> ENDIF <<<
&SCF
LUMORB
Charge = -1

&Slapaf
Iterations = 20
>>> EndDo <<<


resulting in the following convergence pattern

                      Energy     Grad     Grad          Step           Estimated  Hessian Geom Hessian
Iter     Energy       Change     Norm      Max  Element  Max  Element  Final Energy Index Update Update

1   -265.02789209 0.00000000 0.062885-0.035740 nrc006-0.060778  nrc006 -265.02939600  0  RF(S)   None
2   -265.02988181-0.00198972 0.018235-0.011496 nrc006-0.023664  nrc006 -265.03004886  0  RF(S)   BFGS
3   -265.03005329-0.00017148 0.001631-0.000978 nrc009-0.015100  nrc017 -265.03006082  0  RF(S)   BFGS
4   -265.03004953 0.00000376 0.002464-0.000896 nrc014 0.013752  nrc017 -265.03006022  0  RF(S)   BFGS
5   -265.03006818-0.00001865 0.001059 0.000453 nrc013-0.007550  nrc014 -265.03007064  0  RF(S)   BFGS
6   -265.03006524 0.00000294 0.001800 0.000778 nrc014 0.006710  nrc014 -265.03007032  0  RF(S)   BFGS
7   -265.03006989-0.00000465 0.000381 0.000190 nrc005 0.003078  nrc016 -265.03007014  0  RF(S)   BFGS
8   -265.03006997-0.00000008 0.000129-0.000094 nrc016-0.001305  nrc017 -265.03007003  0  RF(S)   BFGS


The computed reaction energy is estimated to about 42 kcal/mol at this level of theory.

### 5.1.3.1.2. Transition state optimization¶

To locate the transition state it is important to identify the reaction coordinate. In our case here we note that the significant reaction coordinates are the bond distances between C1 and H3, and O1 and H3. In the location of the transition state we will start from the geometry of the reactant for which the $$\ce{O{1}-H{3}}$$ bond distance is 2.51 Å. We will conduct the search in a number of constrained geometry optimizations in which we step by step reduce the $$\ce{O{1}-H{3}}$$ distance towards the distance in the product of 0.95 Å. The selected series is 2.0, 1.5, 1.3, and 1.0 Å. To constraint the $$\ce{O{1}-H{3}}$$ bond distance we modify the input to the GATEWAY moduel by adding the following:

Constraint
R1 = Bond H3 O1
Value
R1 = 2.0 Angstrom
End of Constraint


The SLAPAF module’s associated input looks like:

&Slapaf &End
Iterations
20
FindTS
PRFC
End of Input


This will correspond to the input for the first of the series of constraint geometry optimization. However, note the keyword FindTS. This keyword will make the SLAPAF module switch from a constrained geometry optimization to a transition state geometry optimization if the updated geometrical Hessian contains one negative eigenvalue. It is of course our hope that during the series of constrained geometry optimizations that we will run into this situation and find the transition state. The convergence pattern for the first constrained optimization is

                      Energy     Grad     Grad          Step           Estimated  Hessian Geom Hessian
Iter     Energy       Change     Norm      Max  Element  Max  Element  Final Energy Index Update Update

1   -265.09707600 0.00000000 0.965614 0.965614 Cns001 0.230366* nrc009 -265.07671229  0  MFRFS   None
2   -265.08759913 0.00947687 0.216939 0.214768 Cns001 0.081441  nrc012 -265.08946379  0  MFRFS   MSP
3   -265.08218288 0.00541624 0.014770 0.007032 nrc010 0.019690  nrc010 -265.08242668  0  MFRFS   MSP
4   -265.08251826-0.00033537 0.003644-0.001560 nrc003 0.005075  nrc002 -265.08254163  0  MFRFS   MSP
5   -265.08254834-0.00003008 0.001274-0.000907 nrc012 0.026237! nrc016 -265.08257455  0  MFRFS   MSP
6   -265.08251413 0.00003421 0.003036-0.002420 nrc016-0.024325  nrc016 -265.08254699  0  MFRFS   MSP
7   -265.08254682-0.00003269 0.000837-0.000426 nrc012 0.012351  nrc017 -265.08255083  0  MFRFS   MSP
8   -265.08255298-0.00000616 0.000470 0.000238 nrc016-0.005376  nrc017 -265.08255421  0  MFRFS   MSP
9   -265.08255337-0.00000038 0.000329-0.000154 nrc012-0.004581  nrc014 -265.08255409  0  MFRFS   MSP
10   -265.08255418-0.00000081 0.000206-0.000148 nrc012-0.000886  nrc014 -265.08255425  0  MFRFS   MSP
11   -265.08255430-0.00000013 0.000123-0.000097 nrc012-0.001131  nrc014 -265.08255436  0  MFRFS   MSP


Here we note that the Hessian index is zero, i.e. the optimization is a constrained geometry optimization. The final structure is used as the starting geometry for the 2nd constrained optimization at 1.5 Å. This optimization did not find a negative eigenvalue either. However, starting the 3rd constrained optimization from the final structure of the 2nd constrained optimization resulted in the convergence pattern

                      Energy     Grad     Grad          Step           Estimated  Hessian Geom Hessian
Iter     Energy       Change     Norm      Max  Element  Max  Element  Final Energy Index Update Update

1   -265.03250948 0.00000000 0.384120 0.377945 Cns001-0.209028* nrc007 -264.99837542 0  MFRFS   None
2   -265.01103140 0.02147809 0.120709 0.116546 Cns001-0.135181  nrc007 -265.01209656 0  MFRFS   MSP
3   -265.00341440 0.00761699 0.121043-0.055983 nrc005-0.212301* nrc007 -264.98788416 1  MFRFS   MSP
4   -264.99451339 0.00890101 0.089986 0.045423 nrc007 0.123178* nrc002 -264.99582814 1  MFRFS   MSP
5   -264.99707885-0.00256546 0.044095-0.015003 nrc009 0.159069* nrc015 -265.00090995 1  MFRFS   MSP
6   -264.99892919-0.00185034 0.033489-0.013653 nrc015-0.124146  nrc015 -265.00050567 1  MFRFS   MSP
7   -265.00031159-0.00138240 0.009416-0.004916 nrc018-0.156924  nrc018 -265.00070286 1  MFRFS   MSP
8   -265.00019076 0.00012083 0.009057 0.005870 nrc018 0.081240  nrc018 -265.00049408 1  MFRFS   MSP
9   -265.00049567-0.00030490 0.003380 0.001481 nrc011-0.070124  nrc015 -265.00056966 1  MFRFS   MSP
10   -265.00030276 0.00019291 0.159266-0.159144 Cns001 0.114927! nrc015 -264.99874954 0  MFRFS   MSP
11   -265.00098377-0.00068101 0.031621-0.008700 nrc005-0.101187  nrc007 -265.00046906 1  MFRFS   MSP
12   -265.00050857 0.00047520 0.003360 0.001719 nrc015 0.012580  nrc015 -265.00052069 1  MFRFS   MSP
13   -265.00052089-0.00001233 0.001243-0.000590 nrc017-0.006069  nrc017 -265.00052323 1  MFRFS   MSP
14   -265.00052429-0.00000340 0.000753 0.000259 nrc011-0.002449  nrc018 -265.00052458 1  MFRFS   MSP
15   -265.00052441-0.00000011 0.000442-0.000136 nrc007 0.003334  nrc018 -265.00052464 1  MFRFS   MSP
16   -265.00052435 0.00000006 0.000397 0.000145 nrc017 0.001628  nrc010 -265.00052459 1  MFRFS   MSP


Here a negative Hessian eigenvalue was found at iteration 3. At this point the optimization turn to a normal quasi-Newton–Raphson optimization without any constraints. We note that the procedure flips back to a constrained optimization at iteration 10 but is finished as an optimization for a transition state. The predicted activation energy is estimated to 60.6 kcal/mol (excluding vibrational corrections). The computed transition state is depicted in Figure 5.1.3.3.

Figure 5.1.3.3 Transition state

The remaining issue is if this is a true transition state. This issue can only be resolved by doing a calculation of the analytical Hessian using the MCKINLEY module (execution of the MCLR module is automatic). The corresponding input is

&Seward

Basis set
C.cc-pVDZ....
C1            -1.8937541206        0.0797525492        0.5330826031
C2            -2.3239194706       -0.0748842444        3.0012862573
C3             0.7556108398       -0.0065134659       -0.5801137465
End of Basis
Basis set
H.cc-pVDZ....
H1            -4.2196708766       -0.0106202053        3.8051971560
H2            -0.7745261239       -0.2775291936        4.3506967746
H3            -1.9256618348        0.2927045555       -2.1370156139
End of Basis
Basis set
O.cc-pVDZ....
O1             0.2162486684        0.2196587542       -2.9675781183
O2             2.8171388123       -0.2187115071        0.3719375423
End of Basis
End of input

&SCF
Charge = -1

&McKinley
Perturbation
Hessian


From the output of the MCLR code

      ***********************************
*                                 *
* Harmonic frequencies in cm-1    *
* Intensities in km/mole          *
*                                 *
* No correction due to curvlinear *
* representations has been done   *
*                                 *
***********************************

Symmetry a
==============

1         2         3         4         5         6

Freq.   i2027.40     i2.00     i0.07      0.05      0.07      2.02

...
7         8         9        10        11        12

Freq.       3.57    145.36    278.41    574.44    675.27    759.94

...
13        14        15        16        17        18

Freq.     927.78    943.60   1000.07   1225.34   1265.63   1442.57

...
19        20        21        22        23        24

Freq.    1517.91   1800.86   1878.11   2294.83   3198.94   3262.66


we can conclude that we have one imaginary eigenvalue (modes 2–7 corresponds to the translational and rotational zero frequency modes) and that the structure found with this procedure indeed is a transition state. A post calculation analysis of the vibrational modes using the MOLDEN package confirm that the vibrational mode with the imaginary frequency is a mode which moves the proton from the oxygen to the carbon.

## 5.1.3.2. Finding the reaction path – an IRC study¶

A minimum energy path (MEP) is defined as the path defined by a sequence of geometries obtained by a series of optimizations on a hypersphere. The series of constrained optimization starts from some starting structure and the optimized structure at each step is taken as the start for the next step. The constraint in these optimizations is the radius (in mass weighted coordinates) of the hyper sphere with the origin defined by the starting geometry. If the starting structure is a transition state the path is called an Intrinsic Reaction Coordinate (IRC) path. Since the transition structure (TS) has a negative index of the Hessian we have two paths away from the TS. One leading us to the product(s) and one going to the reactant(s). The IRC analysis is used to verify whether the TS is really connecting the expected reactant(s) and product(s) and it is performed in forward and backward directions starting from the TS. This analysis is obtained using the keyword IRC with the SLAPAF specifying the number of points and, if different from the default value (0.10 au), the radius of the hypersphere with the keywords nIRC and IRCStep, respectively. The reaction vector can be found on RUNOLD or it can be specified explicitly (see keyword REACtion vector). In the latter case, the vector can be find at the end of the optimization job in the The Cartesian Reaction vector section of the SLAPAF output. A file named $Project.irc.molden (read by MOLDEN) will be generated in$WorkDir containing only those points belonging to the IRC. Here an example for an IRC analysis with 20 points back and forth and with 0.05 au as step. The reaction vector will be read on RUNOLD.

>>> EXPORT MOLCAS_MAXITER=500
>>> Do while <<<

...

&Slapaf &End
IRC
nIRC
20
IRCStep
0.05
Iterations
200
End of Input
>>> EndDo <<<


If the file RUNFILE is not available, the reaction vector must be specified in the input.

>>> EXPORT MOLCAS_MAXITER=500
>>> Do while <<<

...

&Slapaf &End
IRC
nIRC
20
IRCStep
0.05
REACtion vector
0.140262        0.000000        0.179838
0.321829        0.000000       -0.375102
-0.006582        0.000000       -0.048402
-0.032042       -0.018981       -0.003859
-0.423466        0.000000        0.247525
Iterations
200
End of Input
>>> EndDo <<<