8.4.2 Job Control

In order to use a user-defined basis set, the BASIS $rem must be set to GENERAL or GEN.

When using a non-standard basis set which incorporates $d$ or higher angular momentum basis functions, the $rem variable PURECART needs to be set. This $rem variable indicates to the Q-Chem program how to handle the angular form of the basis functions. As indicated above, each integer represents an angular momentum type which can be defined as either pure (1) or Cartesian (2). For example, 1111 specifies that $d$, $f$, $g$ and $h$ basis functions should have pure form whereas 1121 indicates that $d$- $g$- and $h$-functions are pure but $f$ functions are Cartesian. These four-digit codes can be used even if the basis does not contain $g$ or $h$ functions; PURECART = 1111 (or 2222) specifies to use pure (or Cartesian) functions for all angular momentum types.

In standard basis sets all functions are pure, except for the $d$ functions in $n$-21G–type bases (e.g., 3-21G) and $n$-31G bases (e.g., 6-31G, 6-31G*,6-31+G*, $\mathrm{\dots }$). In particular, the 6-311G series uses pure functions for both $d$ and $f$. ⁶⁸⁰ Krishnan R. et al.
J. Chem. Phys.
(1980), 72, pp. 650. Link ^{, 381} Frisch M. J., Pople J. A., Binkley J. S.
J. Chem. Phys.
(1984), 80, pp. 3265. Link Note that other electronic structure codes may use Cartesian functions for basis sets of the same name, in which case absolute energies will differ. Set PURECART = 2222 to request Cartesian Gaussian functions, if desired.