There are a variety of semi-empirical methods available in Gaussian 09. The AM1 and the PM3 methods have been reimplemented [Thiel92, Thiel96, Frisch09] to use the standard integral processing infrastructure (rather than using code from the public-domain MOPAC). In addition to increased efficiency, this change also provides analytic gradients and frequencies. PM6 and PDDG are also implemented in this way. The remaining semi-empirical methods use the modified version of MOPAC in Link 402, and they are discussed on their individual pages.
AM1: Requests a semi-empirical calculation using the AM1 Hamiltonian [Dewar77, Dewar78a, Davis81, Dewar85, Dewar86, Dewar88, Dewar88a, Dewar89, Dewar90, Dewar90a, Anders93].
PM3: Requests a semi-empirical calculation using the PM3 Hamiltonian [Stewart89, Stewart89a]. The parameter for Li has been updated as specified in [Anders93]. PM3MM specifies the PM3 model including the optional molecular mechanics correction for HCON linkages.
PM6: Requests a semi-empirical calculation using the PM6 Hamiltonian [Stewart07]. The PDDG variation is also available [Repsky02, Tubert-Brohman04, Tubert-Brohman05, Sattelmeyer06, Tirado-Rives08].
No basis set keyword should be specified with any semi-empirical keyword.
Standard parameters for supported atoms are generated automatically by the program unless the NoGenerate option is specified. Additional and/or alternate ones can also be read-in in several ways (see the options). Read-in parameters take precedence over internal ones when both are used.
Generate
Generate the standard parameters for the specified method. This is the default. NoGenerate says not to generate any standard parameters; all parameters must be read in.
Input
Read parameters from the input stream in Gaussian’s format. Any parameter can be specified or overridden. The input section must be terminated by a blank line. Cards is a synonym for Input.
MOPACExternal
Read parameters from the input stream in MOPAC’s external format and units. Most but not all parameters can be changed. The input section must be terminated by a blank line.
Both
Read parameters from the input stream, first in Gaussian’s format, followed by more parameters in MOPAC’s format. Both input sections must be terminated by a blank line.
Checkpoint
Read parameters from the checkpoint file. Chk and Read are synonymous with Checkpoint.
TCheckpoint
Read parameters from the checkpoint file if present; otherwise generate them.
RWF
Read parameters from the read-write file.
Print
Print parameters used for elements in the current job in Gaussian’s format. This is the default if parameters are read from the input file. NoPrint says not to print parameters, and it is the default if standard parameters are used.
PrintAll
Print parameters for all elements (in Gaussian’s format), even the ones that are not present in the molecule specification.
Zero
Print all parameters including the ones that are zero. The default is NonZero, which says to print only non-zero parameters.
Old
Use the old MOPAC-based code. Second derivatives are done numerically. Applies only to AM1 and PM3. The default is New, which says to use the new implementation described above.
Semi-empirical parameters can be specified in two different formats, Gaussian and MOPAC, via the Input and MOPACExternal options (respectively). We begin with the native G09 semi-empirical parameter format, which is very general.
Here’s an example in Gaussian format, for FeCH:
Initial section of global parameters. Method=40 CoreType=2 PM6R6=0.0000124488 PM6R12=0.0000007621 **** H Parameters for hydrogen. PQN=1 NValence=1 F0ss=0.5309794634 ZetaOverlap=1.2686410000 U=-0.4133181193 Beta=-0.3069665271 CoreKO=0.9416560046 KON=0,0,0,0.9416560046 EISol=-0.4133181193 EHeat=0.0830298228 GCore=0.0016794859,0.8557539899,3.3750716603 DCore=1,3,1.8737858033,2.2435870000 **** C Parameters for carbon. PQN=2,2 NValence=4 F0ss=0.4900713271 F0sp=0.4236511476 F0pp=0.3644399975 F2pp=0.1978513243 G1sp=0.0790832988 ZetaOverlap=2.0475580000,1.7028410000 U=-1.8775102825,-1.4676916178 Beta=-0.5653970441,-0.2745883502 DDN=0,1,0.7535642510 DDN=1,1,0.7192361890 CoreKO=1.0202596487 KON=0,0,0,1.0202596487 KON=1,0,1,1.2918442312 KON=0,1,1,1.0202596487 KON=2,1,1,0.7626764584 EISol=-4.2335803497 EHeat=0.2723305520 DipHyp=1.5070417957 GCore=0.0032154961,0.5881175739,2.5208171825 DCore=1,4,0.2878149911,0.2165060000 DCore=2,3,1.6101301385,3.2139710000 DCore=3,3,1.7155258339,16.1800020000 DCore=4,3,2.2293611369,25.0358790000 DCore=5,3,1.5446719761,1.8748590000 DCore=6,5,1.3831173494,0.8135100000,3.1644797074,9.2800000000 **** Fe Parameters for iron. PQN=4,4,3 NValence=8 F0ss=0.2931506917 F0sp=0.2861621092 F0pp=0.2797829041 F0sd=0.3417747898 F0pd=0.3378189937 F0dd=0.5580709105 F2pp=0.1567537881 F2pd=0.1236661383 F2dd=0.2945882511 F4dd=0.1921227725 G1sp=0.2072870321 G1pd=0.1102204721 G2sd=0.0588483485 G3pd=0.0671224585 Rsppd=0.1364112343 Rsdpp=0.1031169651 Rsddd=0.1510228569 ZetaOverlap=1.4791500000,6.0022460000,1.0807470000 Zeta1C=1.4591520000,1.3926140000,2.1619090000 U=-2.5913804076,-2.3138503107,-3.8083983722 Beta=0.2950096563,-0.0413709206,-0.1288993981 DDN=0,1,0.0896587028 DDN=1,1,0.3534210933 DDN=0,2,1.6776352014 DDN=1,2,0.0796789968 DDN=2,2,1.3085519205 CoreKO=1.2720920000 KON=0,0,0,1.7056074374 KON=1,0,1,0.2359511557 KON=0,1,1,1.7056074374 KON=2,1,1,0.4977547907 KON=2,0,2,1.6958541322 KON=1,1,2,0.2947417183 KON=0,2,2,0.8959434914 KON=2,2,2,1.2449263774 EISol=-15.6859079709 EHeat=0.1582446241 DipHyp=0.1793070893 DCore=1,3,0.4521755746,0.0251950000 DCore=6,3,2.1121277473,0.3668350000 DCore=7,3,1.3232002016,0.1553420000 DCore=8,3,0.9135254945,0.1364220000 DCore=9,3,2.2726610620,3.6573500000 DCore=15,3,1.3586804751,0.4312910000 DCore=16,3,0.5233514967,0.0334780000 DCore=17,3,0.6507784269,0.0194730000 DCore=19,3,1.0583544172,6.0000000000 DCore=26,3,1.4397774115,1.8468900000 ****
Atomic units are used throughout the input. Parameter sections are separated by lines containing four asterisks.
The following items are specified in the global section:
Method | An integer corresponding to the desired semi-empirical method. This value should correspond to the method specified in the route section as a check. The values are 8 for AM1, 9 for PM3, 10 for PM3MM, 40 for PM6 and 41 for PDDG. | |
CoreType | Type of core repulsion terms, where 1 means AM1, PM3, or PDDG, and 2 means PM6. | |
PeptideFC | Force constant for peptide linkages. Only valid for with PM3MM. | |
RIJScale | Rij scale factor for the AM1 O-H and N-H bonds. | |
PM6R6 | R6 parameter for the PM6 core repulsion. | |
PM6R12 | R12 parameter for the PM6 core repulsion. |
The following items specify the parameters for an element:
PQN | Principal quantum numbers for each shell (s, p, d). Determines which basis functions are used on the element. | |
NValence | Number of valence electrons. | |
ZetaOverlap | Slater exponents for basis functions used in the calculation of the overlap contribution to the core Hamiltonian. | |
Zeta1C | Slater exponents for basis functions used in the computation of those one-center two-electron integrals that were not specified explicitly. | |
F0*, G*, Rs* | Slater-Condon parameters for one-center two-electron integrals. If any of these items are not specified, they are computed from the Zeta1C exponents. When internal parameters are printed, all values are included regardless of whether they were computed from Zeta1C or a specific value. The full list of these parameters is: F0ss, F0sp, F0pp, F0sd, F0pd, F0dd, F2pp, F2pd, F2dd, F4dd, G1sp, G1pd, G2sd, G3pd, Rsppd, Rsdpp and Rsddd. | |
U | Diagonal core Hamiltonian matrix elements, one per angular momentum. | |
Beta | Off-diagonal core Hamiltonian parameters, one per angular momentum. | |
DDN | Point-charge distance parameters for multipole-approximated two-center two-electron integrals. Each instance has the form L1,L2,Value and applies to charge distributions involving one basis function of angular momentum L1 and one of angular momentum L2. If any are needed but are not specified, they are computed from the Zeta1C exponents. | |
KON | Klopman-Ohno parameters for two-center two-electron integrals. Required but unspecified items are computed by matching the one-center limit to the one-center integrals given by the Slater-Condon parameters and Zeta1C, and using the specified or defaulted DD values. Each instance is of the form LT,L1,L2,Value and applies to the LT angular momentum component of the product of functions of angular momentum L1 and L2. | |
CoreKO | Klopman-Ohno parameter used in nuclear attraction terms. If not specified, the 0,0,0 (L=0 SS) parameter is used. | |
EHeat | Heat of formation of the isolated atom. | |
EISol | Energy of the isolated atom. If not provided, it is computed from the other parameters and a standard electronic configuration for the atom. | |
DipHyp | Dipole moment hybridization parameter. | |
DCore | Core repulsion parameters. Each instance is of the form El,IType,Value1,Value2. Each term specifies the core repulsion between the current element and the element El. IType specifies the bond type: 1 for usual AM1, 2 for AM1 N-H and O-H, 3 usual PM6, 4 PM6 O-H, 5 PM6 CC triple bond, and 6 PM6 Si-O. There will be one or two parameters values, depending on the specific functional form. |
MOPAC-style semi-empirical parameter input. If you request PM6=MOPACExternal or AM1=MOPACExternal, then an input section is read giving parameters in the same formation used by the External keyword in MOPAC. This is less general than the native Gaussian format, but includes the most common parameters. Refer to the MOPAC documentation for details. The units expected by Gaussian in this format are those expected by MOPAC, which are a mixture of atomic and other units.
The following table gives the correspondence between MOPAC External labels and the native Gaussian input:
| MOPAC | Gaussian |
| USS,UPP,UDD | U |
| ZS,ZP,ZD | ZetaOverlap |
| ZSN,ZPN,ZDN | Zeta1C |
| BetaS,BetaP,BetaD | Beta |
| GSS,GPP,…,FODD,… | F0ss,F0pp, etc.† |
| DD2 | DDN=0,1,Value |
| DD3 | DDN=1,1,Value |
| DD4 | DDN=0,2,Value |
| DD5 | DDN=1,2,Value |
| DD6 | DDN=2,2,Value |
| PO1 | KON=0,0,0,Value |
| PO2 | KON=1,0,1,Value |
| PO3 | KON=2,1,1,Value |
| PO4 | KON=2,0,2,Value |
| PO5 | KON=1,1,2,Value |
| PO6 | KON=2,2,2,Value |
| PO7 | KON=0,1,1,Value |
| PO8 | KON=0,2,2,Value |
| PO9 | CoreKO |
| EHeat | EHeat |
| EISol | EISol |
| AlpB_NN,XFac_NN | DCore=NN,3,Alpha,XFac |
†Note that MOPAC’s GSP and GP2 are linear combinations of F0sp and G1sp. Gaussian uses the standard Slater-Condon names and parameter definitions.
Here is example MOPAC External data for Cr, printed by MOPAC using its debug option:
PARAMETER VALUES USED IN THE CALCULATION NI TYPE VALUE UNIT 24 USS -34.86433900 EV ONE-CENTER ENERGY FOR S 24 UPP -26.97861500 EV ONE-CENTER ENERGY FOR P 24 UDD -54.43103600 EV ONE-CENTER ENERGY FOR D 24 ZS 3.28346000 AU ORBITAL EXPONENT FOR S 24 ZP 1.02939400 AU ORBITAL EXPONENT FOR P 24 ZD 1.62311900 AU ORBITAL EXPONENT FOR D 24 BETAS -5.12261500 EV BETA PARAMETER FOR S 24 BETAP 3.92671100 EV BETA PARAMETER FOR P 24 BETAD -4.23055000 EV BETA PARAMETER FOR D 24 GSS 8.85557242 EV ONE-CENTER INTEGRAL (SS,SS) 24 GPP 5.05309383 EV ONE-CENTER INTEGRAL (PP,PP) 24 GSP 5.58863066 EV ONE-CENTER INTEGRAL (SS,PP) 24 GP2 4.42952965 EV ONE-CENTER INTEGRAL (PP*,PP*) 24 HSP 0.64803936 EV ONE-CENTER INTEGRAL (SP,SP) 24 ZSN 1.61985300 AU INTERNAL EXPONENT FOR S - (IJ,KL) 24 ZPN 0.84826600 AU INTERNAL EXPONENT FOR P - (IJ,KL) 24 ZDN 1.40501500 AU INTERNAL EXPONENT FOR D - (IJ,KL) 24 F0DD 9.86923654 EV SLATER-CONDON PARAMETER F0DD 24 F2DD 5.20966257 EV SLATER-CONDON PARAMETER F2DD 24 F4DD 3.39760602 EV SLATER-CONDON PARAMETER F4DD 24 F0SD 6.15013600 EV SLATER-CONDON PARAMETER F0SD 24 G2SD 2.00030000 EV SLATER-CONDON PARAMETER G2SD 24 F0PD 5.63536196 EV SLATER-CONDON PARAMETER F0PD 24 F2PD 1.91648791 EV SLATER-CONDON PARAMETER F2PD 24 G1PD 1.58022558 EV SLATER-CONDON PARAMETER G1PD 24 G3PD 0.96233144 EV SLATER-CONDON PARAMETER G3PD 24 DD2 0.28669123 BOHR CHARGE SEPARATION, SP, L=1 24 DD3 2.91433601 BOHR CHARGE SEPARATION, PP, L=2 24 DD4 1.12394737 BOHR CHARGE SEPARATION, SD, L=2 24 DD5 0.81804068 BOHR CHARGE SEPARATION, PD, L=1 24 DD6 1.23219554 BOHR CHARGE SEPARATION, DD, L=2 24 PO1 1.53639890 BOHR KLOPMAN-OHNO TERM, SS, L=0 24 PO2 0.72875078 BOHR KLOPMAN-OHNO TERM, SP, L=1 24 PO3 1.96024483 BOHR KLOPMAN-OHNO TERM, PP, L=2 24 PO4 0.94950312 BOHR KLOPMAN-OHNO TERM, SD, L=2 24 PO5 1.66105265 BOHR KLOPMAN-OHNO TERM, PD, L=1 24 PO6 1.08400979 BOHR KLOPMAN-OHNO TERM, DD, L=2 24 PO7 1.53639890 BOHR KLOPMAN-OHNO TERM, PP, L=0 24 PO8 1.37859617 BOHR KLOPMAN-OHNO TERM, DD, L=0 24 PO9 1.53639890 BOHR KLOPMAN-OHNO TERM, CORE 24 CORE 6.00000000 E CORE CHARGE 24 EHEAT 95.00000000 KCAL/MOL HEAT OF FORMATION OF THE ATOM (EXP) 24 EISOL -185.72482255 EV TOTAL ENERGY OF THE ATOM (CALC) 24 ALPB_24 4.65541900 ALPB factor 24 XFAC_24 10.31860700 XFAC factor
Energies, optimizations and frequencies.
Parameters are stored in the program for the following elements:
CNDO, INDO, MINDO, MINDO3
The energy from these calculations appears in the output file as follows:
SCF Done: E(RAM1) = -0.185015348024 A.U. after 14 cycles AM1 SCF Done: E(RPM3) = -0.185015348024 A.U. after 14 cycles PM3 SCF Done: E(RPM3MM) = -0.185015348024 A.U. after 14 cycles PM3MM SCF Done: E(RPM6) = -0.185015348024 A.U. after 14 cycles PM6 SCF Done: E(RPDDG) = -0.185015348024 A.U. after 14 cycles PDDG
The energy printed is the heat of formation as computed by the model.
Last updated on: 10 May 2009