Benchmark calculations with correlated molecular wave functions. IX. The weakly bound complexes Ar–H2 and Ar–HCl

The interaction of Ar with ${\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{2}}$ and HCl has been studied using Mo/ller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2, MP3, MP4) and coupled-cluster [CCSD, CCSD(T)] methods with augmented correlation consistent basis sets. Basis sets as large as triply augmented quadruple zeta quality were used to investigate the convergence trends. Interaction energies were determined using the supermolecule approach with the counterpoise correction to account for basis set superposition error. Comparison with the available empirical potentials finds excellent agreement for both binding energies and transition state. For ${\mathrm{Ar–H}}_{\mathrm{2}},$ the estimated complete basis set (CBS) limits for the binding energies of the two equivalent minima and the connecting transition state (TS) are, respectively, 55 and $\text{47\hspace{0.17em}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-1}}$ at the MP4 level and 54 and $\text{46\hspace{0.17em}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-1}}$ at the CCSD(T) level, respectively [the XC(fit) empirical potential of Bissonnette et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 105, 2639 (1996)] yields 56.6 and $\text{47.8\hspace{0.17em}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-1}}$ for ${\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{2}}$ $\text{(v=0)}$ ]. The estimated CBS limits for the binding energies of the two minima and transition state of Ar–HCl are 185, 155, and $\text{109\hspace{0.17em}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-1}}$ at the MP4 level and 176, 147, and $\text{105\hspace{0.17em}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-1}}$ at the CCSD(T) level, respectively [the $\text{H6(4,3,0)}$ empirical potential of Hutson [J. Phys. Chem. 96, 4237 (1992)] yields 176.0, 148.3, and $\text{103.3\hspace{0.17em}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-1}}$ for HCl $\text{(v=0)}$ ]. Basis sets containing diffuse functions of $\mathrm{(dfg)}$ symmetries were found to be essential for accurately modeling these two complexes, which are largely bound by dispersion and induction forces. Highly correlated wave functions were also required for accurate results. This was found to be particularly true for ArHCl, where significant differences in calculated binding energies were observed between MP2, MP4, and CCSD(T).