Monte Carlo free energy calculations using electronic structure methods

The molecular mechanics-based importance sampling function (MMBIF) algorithm [R. Iftimie, D. Salahub, D. Wei, and J. Schofield, J. Chem. Phys. 113, 4852 (2000)] is extended to incorporate semiempirical electronic structure methods in the secondary Markov chain, creating a fully quantum mechanical Monte Carlo sampling method for simulations of reactive chemical systems which, unlike the MMBIF algorithm, does not require the generation of a system-specific force field. The algorithm is applied to calculating the potential of mean force for the isomerization reaction of HCN using thermodynamic integration. Constraints are implemented in the sampling using a modification of the SHAKE algorithm, including that of a fixed, arbitrary reaction coordinate. Simulation results show that sampling efficiency with the semiempirical secondary potential is often comparable in quality to force fields constructed using the methods suggested in the original MMBIF work. The semiempirical based importance sampling method presented here is a useful alternative to MMBIF sampling as it can be applied to systems for which no suitable MM force field can be constructed.