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12.10 The XPol+SAPT (XSAPT) Method

12.10.1 Introduction

(December 11, 2025)

The “XSAPT” method, which may be regarded either as an acronym for “XPol+SAPT” or for “extended” symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT), was originally introduced by Jacobson and Herbert, 606 Jacobson L. D., Herbert J. M.
J. Chem. Phys.
(2011), 134, pp. 094118.
Link
, 544 Herbert J. M. et al.
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.
(2012), 14, pp. 7679.
Link
and later by Lao and Herbert, 741 Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
J. Phys. Chem. Lett.
(2012), 3, pp. 3241.
Link
, 742 Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
J. Chem. Phys.
(2013), 139, pp. 034107.
Link
, 744 Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
J. Phys. Chem. A
(2015), 119, pp. 235.
Link
, 746 Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
J. Chem. Theory Comput.
(2018), 14, pp. 2955.
Link
, 747 Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
J. Chem. Theory Comput.
(2018), 14, pp. 5128.
Link
as a low-scaling, systematically-improvable method for intermolecular interactions that could be applicable to large systems. The idea was to replace the need for empirical parameters in the XPol method with on-the-fly evaluation of exchange-repulsion and dispersion interactions via pairwise-additive SAPT. Stated differently, XSAPT uses XPol to evaluate many-body (non-pairwise-additive) polarization effects, but then assumes that dispersion and exchange-repulsion interactions are pairwise additive, and evaluates them via pairwise SAPT0 or SAPT0(KS) calculations. The method was significantly extended by Lao, Herbert, and co-workers, 741 Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
J. Phys. Chem. Lett.
(2012), 3, pp. 3241.
Link
, 742 Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
J. Chem. Phys.
(2013), 139, pp. 034107.
Link
, 744 Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
J. Phys. Chem. A
(2015), 119, pp. 235.
Link
, 746 Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
J. Chem. Theory Comput.
(2018), 14, pp. 2955.
Link
, 747 Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
J. Chem. Theory Comput.
(2018), 14, pp. 5128.
Link
, 195 Carter-Fenk K. et al.
J. Phys. Chem. Lett.
(2019), 10, pp. 2706.
Link
, 824 Liu K.-Y., Carter-Fenk K., Herbert J. M.
J. Chem. Phys.
(2019), 151, pp. 031102.
Link
, 464 Gray M., Herbert J. M.
J. Chem. Phys.
(2021), 155, pp. 034103.
Link
with various approximations applied in place of the SAPT0 or SAPT0(KS) dispersion terms, 194 Carter-Fenk K., Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
Acc. Chem. Res.
(2021), 54, pp. 3679.
Link
which are both the least accurate and most expensive contributions to second-order SAPT. A concise overview of XSAPT-based methods can be found in Ref.  194 Carter-Fenk K., Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
Acc. Chem. Res.
(2021), 54, pp. 3679.
Link
and a comprehensive review in Ref. 541. In particular, the XSAPT+MBD method 195 Carter-Fenk K. et al.
J. Phys. Chem. Lett.
(2019), 10, pp. 2706.
Link
stands out as a way to obtain qualitative insight about noncovalent interactions in large systems, backed by quantitative energetics calculations. 194 Carter-Fenk K., Lao K. U., Herbert J. M.
Acc. Chem. Res.
(2021), 54, pp. 3679.
Link
In many cases, this type of analysis has upended textbook “conventional wisdom". 554 Herbert J. M.
J. Phys. Chem. A
(2021), 125, pp. 7125.
Link