Analytical energy gradient for reference interaction site model self-consistent field explicitly including spatial electron density distribution

Analytical energy gradient formula was derived for reference interaction site model self-consistent field explicitly including spatial electron density distribution (RISM-SCF-SEDD). RISM-SCF-SEDD is a combination method of ab initio electronic structure theory and statistical mechanics for molecular liquids [D. Yokogawa et al., J. Chem. Phys. 126, 244504 (2007)]. As shown previously, RISM-SCF-SEDD is numerically stable and has expanded the applicability of the solvation theory. The energy gradient is an indispensable tool to compute molecular geometry and its implementation further extends the capability of RISM-SCF-SEDD. The present method was applied to chemical systems in aqueous solution; hydration structure and geometry of phosphate anion PO(4)(3-) and tautomerization between 2-pyridone and 2-hydroxypyridine. Compared to available experimental data, the present method correctly reproduced the geometries and relative energies of solvated molecules with microscopic solvent distribution. It is clearly shown that highly sophisticated quantum chemical calculation such as coupled cluster with single and double and perturbative triple excitations coupled with solvation effect is a powerful tool to accurately evaluate molecular properties. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3265856]