The generation and use of delocalized internal coordinates in geometry optimization

by Baker, J.; Kessi, A.; Delley, B.

Following on from the earlier work of Pulay and Fogarasi [J. Chem. Phys. 96, 2856 (1992)] we present an alternative definition of natural internal coordinates. This set of delocalized internal coordinates can be generated for any molecular topology, no matter how complicated, and is fully nonredundant. Using an appropriate Schmidt-orthogonalization procedure, all standard bond length, bond angle, and dihedral angle constraints can be imposed within our internal coordinate scheme. Combinatorial constraints (in which sums or differences of stretches, bends, and torsions remain constant) can also be imposed. Optimizations on some fairly large systems (50-100 atoms) show that delocalized internal coordinates are far superior to Cartesians even with reliable Hessian information available at the starting geometry.

Journal
Journal of Chemical Physics
Volume
105
Issue
1
Year
1996
Start Page
192-212
URL
https://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.471864
ISBN/ISSN
1089-7690; 0021-9606
DOI
10.1063/1.471864