A new benchmark set
termed SnS51 for assessing
quantum chemical methods for the computation of 119Sn NMR
chemical shifts is presented. It covers 51 unique 119Sn
NMR chemical shifts for a selection of 50 tin compounds with diverse
bonding motifs and ligands. The experimental reference data are in
the spectral range of ±2500 ppm measured in seven different solvents.
Fifteen common density functional approximations, two scalar- and
one spin–orbit relativistic approach are assessed based on
conformer ensembles generated using the CREST/CENSO scheme and state-of-the-art
semiempirical (GFN2-xTB), force field (GFN-FF), and composite DFT
methods (r2SCAN-3c). Based on the results of this study,
the spin–orbit relativistic method combinations of SO-ZORA
with PBE0 or revPBE functionals are generally recommended. Both yield
mean absolute deviations from experimental data below 100 ppm and
excellent linear regression determination coefficients of ≤0.99.
If spin–orbit calculations are not affordable, the use of SR-ZORA
with B3LYP or X2C with ωB97X or M06 may be considered to obtain
qualitative predictions if no severe spin–orbit effects, for
example, due to heavy nuclei containing ligands, are expected. An
empirical linear scaling correction is demonstrated to be applicable
for further improvement, and respective empirical parameters are given.
Conformational effects on chemical shifts are studied in detail but
are mostly found to be small. However, in specific cases when the
ligand sphere differs substantially between conformers, chemical shifts
can change by up to several hundred ppm.