Internal Coordinates

Geometry optimization in internal coordinates is achieved using the

opt=Z-Matrix

keyword. In this case the coordinate system used in the input file is also that used for geometry
optimization. The success of the geometry optimization (number of optimization cycles, final result of
the optimization) therefore depends critically on the coordinates used in the input file. The optimization
in internal coordinates (as given in Z-matrix format) is particularly useful in the following three cases:

1) Highly symmetric systems

The benefits of using internal coordinates for highly symmetric systems can nicely be demonstrated
using ammonia NH 3 as an example. Ammonia is a slightly pyramidalized amine of C3v symmetry. A
first attempt for a Z-matrix would be as follows:

N1
H2 1 r2
H3 1 r3 2 a3
H4 1 r4 2 a4 3 d4

r2=1.0
r3=1.0
r4=1.0
a3=110.
a4=110.
d4=120.

The three N-H bonds have been defined using different variables for bond distances and bond angles, but
the initial values have been chosen such that all three N-H bonds are of equal length, implying a certain
degree of symmetry. When this input is used, Gaussian only recognizes Cs symmetry since the three H-
N-H angles are not identical. This type of geometry definition also holds the danger of leading to
changes in the point group during geometry optimizations. The latter are indicated by the program as:
Full point group C1 NOp 1
Omega: Change in point group or standard orientation.

This error typically occurs when optimization starts at a highly symmetric structure, which looses some
of its symmetry properties on optimization due to an incorrect definition of Z-matrix variables. In the
rare case that the symmetry of the system should not be used, one can actually force the program to
ignore symmetry completely using the
NoSymm

keyword. In most cases, however, the available symmetry properties will be used to reduce the
computational effort (in part considerably). Returning to ammonia as an example, a better set of internal
coordinates is:

N1
H2 1 r2
H3 1 r2 2 a3
H4 1 r2 2 a3 3 d4
r2=1.0
a3=110.
d4=120.

reducing the number of variables from six to three. Using this input, Gaussian still only recognizes Cs
symmetry, but smoothly optimizes the structure of ammonia in five steps to tight conversion criteria.
Optimal use of the symmetry properties of ammonia can be made using one dummy atom designated
with the symbol "X" located on the principal C3 axis:
<
X1
N2 1 1.0
H3 2 r3 1 a3
H4 2 r3 1 a3 3 +120.
H5 2 r3 1 a3 3 -120.

r3=1.0
a3=110.

In this case the number of variables can be reduced to two since the definition of the relative position of
the hydrogen atoms uses the intrisic properties of the threefold principal axis. The dihedral angles of
120.0 degrees must remain constant during the geometry optimization and these values are therefore not
defined through variables, but as numerical constants in the Z-matrix. Using the above Z-matrix, the full
C3v symmetry of ammonia is recognized by Gaussian, but optimization is consequently performed in the
Cs point group due to the lack of support for threefold symmetry axes. At the HF/6-31G(d) level of
theory, the geometry is optimized to tight convergence criteria in five cycles with optimized parameters
of r3=1.002522 and a3=111.6755, the HF/6-31G(d) total energy for this structure being -56.1843563au.

One complication sometimes arising from the use of dummy atoms is that one looses sight of the actual
number of degrees of freedom. A nonlinear, asymmetric molecular system containing N atoms has 3N-6
degrees of freedom (=independent structural parameters). For linear, asymmetric systems this number is
increased to 3N-5. Using ammonia again as an example, we should have 3*4-6 = 6 independent
structural parameters if symmetry is not accounted for. We have seen above that this number can be
reduced to 2 on full consideration of its C3v symmetry. How many degrees of freedom remain after
dummy atoms have been used in Z-matrix construction is, however, rather difficult to see in some cases.
One can therefore instruct Gaussian to check whether the structural variables used in a given Z-matrix
are all linearly independent (that is, describe different structural degrees of freedom) and overall don't
exceed the correct number in a given point group symmetry. This is done by using

FOpt instead of Opt

as the keyword. One example, that demonstrates a problematic situation, is the following:
X1
X2 1 1.0
N3 2 1.0 1 90.
H4 3 r4 2 a4 1 d4
H5 3 r4 2 a4 1 +120.
H6 3 r4 2 a4 1 -120.

r4=1.0
a4=110.
d4=0.0

Here the position of dummy atom X1 is indirectly optimized through its use for the definition of
hydrogen atom H4. Running this input with the FOpt keyword gives the following error:
FOPT requested but NVar= 3 while NDOF= 2.
In most cases, the optimization of the position of dummy atoms leads to larger numbers of geometry
optimization cycles and in some cases to incomplete optimizations.

Systems containing methyl substituents or similar substructures benefit from an "internal" definition of
these groups in the sense that the positions of the three hydrogen atoms are defined relative to each other
(rather than to an external reference). This can be demonstrated using acetic acid as an example:

0 1
C1
C2 1 r2
O3 1 r3 2 a3
O4 1 r4 2 a4 3 180.0
H5 4 r5 1 a5 3 0.0
H6 2 r6 1 a6 3 0.0
H7 2 r7 1 a7 6 d7
H8 2 r7 1 a7 6 -d7

r2=1.51
r3=1.21
r4=1.36
r5=0.98
r6=1.09
r7=1.09
a3=126.
a4=111.
a5=105.
a6=109.
a7=109.
d7=-120.

The position of hydrogen atom H6 is here defined with reference to the atoms C2/C1/O3, while the
dihedral angles for the other two hydrogen atoms H7 and H8 are defined relative to H6 (and not O3). The
advantage of this type of definition becomes obvious when we want to explore another conformation of
the methyl group with respect to the remainder of the molecule in order to identify the energetically most
favorable conformation of acetic acid. While the above conformation eclipses one of the C-H bonds with
the C-O double bond, the alternative conformation below assumes an antiperiplanar arrangement.
0 1
C1
C2 1 r2
O3 1 r3 2 a3
O4 1 r4 2 a4 3 180.0
H5 4 r5 1 a5 3 0.0
H6 2 r6 1 a6 3 180.0
H7 2 r7 1 a7 6 d7
H8 2 r7 1 a7 6 -d7

r2=1.51
r3=1.21
r4=1.36
r5=0.98
r6=1.09
r7=1.09
a3=126.
a4=111.
a5=105.
a6=109.
a7=109.
d7=-120.

A comparison of the Z-matrices for these two conformations reveals that the only difference in the
starting conformation is in the dihedral angle given for H6 (0.0 in the first and 180.0 in the second
conformation). Through their definition relative to hydrogen H6 the positions of H7 and H8 change
accordingly. Both starting conformations optimize smoothly in Z-matrix coordinates at the B3LYP/6-
31G(d) level. At this level of theory the first conformation is 1.5 kJ/mol more favorable than the second.
Frequency calculations indicate that the first is a true minimum on the potential energy surface, while the
second corresponds to a transition state for methyl group rotation.

2) Systems containing rings

The construction of ring systems is a particular challenge due to the fact that one of the ring bonds
cannot be specified in a Z-matrix. We will use oxirane (C2 H4 O, ethylene oxide) here as an example to
demonstrate the situation. Oxirane is C2v symmetric and a Z-matrix reflecting this symmetry is as
follows:
O1
C2 1 r2
C3 1 r2 2 a3
H4 2 r4 1 a4 3 d4
H5 2 r4 1 a4 3 -d4
H6 3 r4 1 a4 2 -d4
H7 3 r4 1 a4 2 d4

r2=1.25
r4=1.10
a3=73.76
a4=101.84
d4=-106.234

With this definition, the distance between C2 and C3 is not defined explicitly as a variable, but indirectly
through variable a3 describing the bond angle C3-O1-C2. Small variations in this angle will,
unfortunately, lead to quite large changes in the C2-C3 distance. As a consequence, convergence of the
optimization is less efficient and takes 8 steps to complete. Alternatively, the geometry can also be
defined through inclusion of one dummy atom located on the principal C2 axis:
O1
X2 1 r2
C3 2 r3 1 90.
C4 2 r3 1 90. 3 180.
H5 3 r5 2 a5 1 d5
H6 3 r5 2 a5 1 -d5
H7 4 r5 2 a5 1 -d5
H8 4 r5 2 a5 1 d5

r2=1.0
r3=0.75
r5=1.10
a5=110.
d5=90.

In this Z-matrix all bond distances inside the ring are defined through a distance variable, even though
these variables do clearly not describe what is typically considered a "bond distance". Optimization is
more efficient and is complete within 7 steps. The difference between these two approaches increases
with system size and complexity.

The same general strategy can be used to define Z-matrices for six-membered ring systems. The C2v
symmetric structure of pyridine, for example, can most readily be constructed by first describing the C3-
C5 fragment and subsequently positioning the remaining part of the ring system with the help of one
dummy atom:
H1
C2 1 r2
C3 2 r3 1 a3
C4 2 r3 1 a3 3 180.0
H5 3 r5 2 a5 1 0.0
H6 4 r5 2 a5 1 0.0
X7 2 1.0 1 90.0 3 -90.0
N8 2 r8 7 90.0 1 180.0
C9 8 r9 2 a9 3 0.0
C10 8 r9 2 a9 4 0.0
H11 9 r11 8 a11 10 180.0
H12 10 r11 8 a11 9 180.0

r2=1.1
r3=1.40
r5=1.1
r8=2.8
r9=1.35
r11=1.1
a3=120.
a5=120.
a9=60.
a11=120.

The parameter r8 in this Z-matrix describing the distance between ring atoms C2 and N8 effectively
defines the distance between ring atoms C3/C9 and C4/C10. These latter bond distances are otherwise
difficult to describe while retaining full C2v symmetry.

3) Linear Systems
A suitable example for a molecule containing a linear arrangement of atoms is acetonitrile (CH3 CN), one
of the more common solvents used in organic and biological chemistry. This system belongs to the C3v
point group and contains a linear C-C-N arrangement. A first attempt at a Z-matrix is:
C1
C2 1 r2
H3 1 r3 2 a3
H4 1 r3 2 a3 3 120.
H5 1 r3 2 a3 3 -120.
N6 2 r6 1 180.0 3 180.0

r2=1.45
r3=1.1
r6=1.2
a3=110.

The use of this Z-matrix leads, however, to the following error already during the first step of the
geometry optimization:
Error on Z-matrix card number 6
angle Alpha is outside the valid range of 0 to 180.
Conversion from Z-matrix to cartesian coordinates failed:

What is located on "card 6" (=line 6 of the Z-matrix) is the definition of the position of atom 6. At the
heart of the problem is the definition of dihedral angles in general. By definition, dihedral angle
D(1/2/3/4) is the angle between two planes, the first being described by atoms 1/2/3 and the second one
described by atoms 2/3/4. As soon as atoms 1/2/3 or 2/3/4 fall on one line, the definition of one of the
planes has vanished and the dihedral angle is undefined. One could attempt to "solve" the situation by
bending the nitrile group a little bit out of linearity, introducing one additional variable:
C1
C2 1 r2
H3 1 r3 2 a3
H4 1 r3 2 a3 3 120.
H5 1 r3 2 a3 3 -120.
N6 2 r6 1 a6 3 180.0

r2=1.45
r3=1.1
r6=1.2
a3=110.
a6=177.

Since support for the principal C3 axis is lacking anyway, one could as well start with a Cs symmetric
starting structure, but introduce threefold symmetry through the backdoor using equal C-H bond lengths
and H-C-C bond angles. This time the program runs for a few optimization cycles until the C-C-N bond
angle (variable a6) approaches very closely to 180.0 degrees. Gaussian then stops either with the error
message cited above or (more appropriately) with:
This structure is nearly, but not quite of a higher symmetry.
Consider Symm=Loose if the higher symmetry is desired.
Stoichiometry C2H3N
Framework group C1[X(C2H3N)]
Deg. of freedom 12
Full point group C1 NOp 1
Omega: Change in point group or standard orientation.

It thus appears that this strategy doesn't represent a good solution to the problem of large bond angles
either. Dividing the critical bond angle in two parts through introduction of a dummy atom, however,
solves the problem:
C1
C2 1 r2
H3 1 r3 2 a3
H4 1 r3 2 a3 3 120.0
H5 1 r3 2 a3 3 -120.0
X6 2 1.0 1 90.0 3 0.0
N7 2 r7 6 90.0 1 180.0

r2=1.45
r3=1.1
r7=1.2
a3=110.

In this case the optimization is smoothly performed to tight convergence criteria within 5 steps at the
HF/6-31G(d) level of theory with final values of r2=1.467835, r3=1.082125, r7=1.134723, a3=109.8344
and a final total energy of -131.9275339au. Similar situations exist in many other compounds containing
C-C or C-N triple bonds as well as transition metal complexes containing CO ligands.

In conclusion, optimization in internal coordinates is particularly helpful for highly symmetric systems,
for which the Z-matrices can be constructed easily through the appropriate use of dummy atoms. Bond
distances should always be positive, bond angles between 0.0 and 180.0 degrees, and dihedral angles
between 0.0 and 360.0 degrees.

last changes: 12.04.2008, HZ

questions & comments to: zipse@cup.uni-muenchen.de