Nuclear magnetic resonance spin–spin coupling constants from density functional theory: Problems and results

Our recently developed method for the calculation of indirect nuclear spin–spin coupling constants is studied in more detail. For the couplings between nuclei other than N, O, and F (which have lone pairs) the method yields very reliable results. The results for 1J(Si–H) couplings are presented and their dependence on the basis set quality is analyzed. Also, 2J(H–H) and 1J(X–H) couplings (X=C, Si, Ge, Sn) in XH4 molecules are presented and the relativistic effects on 1J(X–H) are discussed. The limitations of the method, which is based on density functional theory, are connected with the inability of the present LDA and GGA exchange-correlation functionals to describe properly the spin-perturbations (through the Fermi-contact mechanism) on atoms to the right of the periodic table (containing lone pairs). However, the deviations from experiment of the calculated couplings for such nuclei are systematic, at least for one-bond couplings, and therefore these calculated couplings should still be useful for NMR structure determinations.