Spartan (chemistry software)


Spartan is a molecular modelling and computational chemistry application from Wavefunction. It contains code for molecular mechanics, semi-empirical methods, ab initio models, density functional models, post-Hartree–Fock models, thermochemical recipes including G3 and T1, and machine learning models like corrected MMFF and Est. Density Functional. Quantum chemistry calculations in Spartan are powered by Q-Chem.
Primary functions are to supply information about structures, relative stabilities and other properties of isolated molecules. Molecular mechanics calculations on complex molecules are common in the chemical community. Quantum chemical calculations, including Hartree–Fock method molecular orbital calculations, but especially calculations that include electronic correlation, are more time-consuming in comparison.
Quantum chemical calculations are also called upon to furnish information about mechanisms and product distributions of chemical reactions, either directly by calculations on transition states, or based on Hammond's postulate, by modeling the steric and electronic demands of the reactants. Quantitative calculations, leading directly to information about the geometries of transition states, and about reaction mechanisms in general, are increasingly common, while qualitative models are still needed for systems that are too large to be subjected to more rigorous treatments. Quantum chemical calculations can supply information to complement existing experimental data or replace it altogether, for example, atomic charges for quantitative structure-activity relationship analyses, and intermolecular potentials for molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics calculations.
Spartan applies computational chemistry methods to many standard tasks that provide calculated data applicable to the determination of molecular shape conformation, structure, NMR, IR, Raman, and UV-visible spectra, molecular properties, reactivity, and selectivity.
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Computational abilities

This software provides the molecular mechanics, Merck Molecular Force Field,, MMFF with extensions, and SYBYL, force fields calculation, Semi-empirical calculations, MNDO/MNDO, Austin Model 1, PM3, Recife Model 1 PM6.

Tasks performed

Available computational models provide molecular, thermodynamic, QSAR, atomic, graphical, and spectral properties. A calculation dialogue provides access to the following computational tasks:
  • Energy – For a given geometry, provides energy and associated properties of a molecule or system. If quantum chemical models are employed, the wave function is calculated.
  • Equilibrium molecular geometry - Locates the nearest local minimum and provides energy and associated properties.
  • Transition state geometry - Locates the nearest first-order saddle point and provides energy and associated properties.
  • Equilibrium conformer – Locates lowest-energy conformation. Often performed before calculating structure using a quantum chemical model.
  • Conformer distribution – Obtains a selection of low-energy conformers. Commonly used to identify the shapes a specific molecule is likely to adopt and to determine a Boltzmann distribution for calculating average molecular properties.
  • Conformer library – Locates lowest-energy conformer and associates this with a set of conformers spanning all shapes accessible to the molecule without regard to energy. Used to build libraries for similarity analysis.
  • Energy profile – Steps a molecule or system through a user defined coordinate set, providing equilibrium geometries for each step.
  • Similarity analysis – quantifies the likeness of molecules based on either structure or chemical function. Quantifies likeness of a molecule to a pharmacophore.

Graphical user interface

The software contains an integrated graphical user interface. Touch screen operations are supported for Windows 7 and 8 devices. Construction of molecules in 3D is facilitated with molecule builders. 2D construction is supported for organic molecules with a 2D sketch palette. The Windows version interface can access ChemDraw; which versions 9.0 or later may also be used for molecule building in 2D. A calculations dialogue is used for specification of task and computational method. Data from calculations are displayed in dialogues, or as text output. Additional data analysis, including linear regression, is possible from an internal spreadsheet.

Graphical models

Graphical models, especially molecular orbitals, electron density, and electrostatic potential maps, are a routine means of molecular visualization in chemistry education.
  • Surfaces:
  • *Molecular orbitals
  • *Electron density – The density, ρ, is a function of the coordinates r, defined such that ρdr is the number of electrons inside a small volume dr. This is what is measured in an X-ray diffraction experiment. The density may be portrayed in terms of an isosurface with the size and shape of the surface being given by the value of the electron density.
  • *Spin density – The density, ρspin, is defined as the difference in electron density formed by electrons of α spin, ρα, and the electron density formed by electrons of β spin, ρβ. For closed-shell molecules, the spin density is zero everywhere. For open-shell molecules, the spin density indicates the distribution of unpaired electrons. Spin density is an indicator of reactivity of radicals.
  • *Van der Waals radius
  • *Solvent accessible surface area
  • *Electrostatic potential – The potential, εp, is defined as the energy of interaction of a positive point charge located at p with the nuclei and electrons of a molecule. A surface for which the electrostatic potential is negative delineates regions in a molecule which are subject to electrophilic attack.
  • Composite surfaces :
  • *Electrostatic potential map – The most commonly employed property map is the electrostatic potential map. This gives the potential at locations on a particular surface, most commonly a surface of electron density corresponding to overall molecular size.
  • *Local ionization potential map – Is defined as the sum over orbital electron densities, ρi times absolute orbital energies, ∈i, and divided by the total electron density, ρ. The local ionization potential reflects the relative ease of electron removal at any location around a molecule. For example, a surface of "low" local ionization potential for sulfur tetrafluoride demarks the areas which are most easily ionized.
  • *LUMO map – Maps of molecular orbitals may also lead to graphical indicators. For example, the LUMO map, wherein the of the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital is mapped onto a size surface, providing an indication of nucleophilic reactivity.

Spectral calculations

Available spectra data and plots for:
Experimental spectra may be imported for comparison with calculated spectra: IR and UV/vis spectra in Joint Committee on Atomic and Molecular Physical Data format and NMR spectra in Chemical Markup Language (.cml) format. Access to public domain spectral databases is available for IR, NMR, and UV/vis spectra.

Databases

Spartan accesses several external databases.

Major release history

  • 1991 Spartan version 1 Unix
  • 1993 Spartan version 2 Unix
  • 1994 Mac Spartan Macintosh
  • 1995 Spartan version 3 Unix
  • 1995 PC Spartan Windows
  • 1996 Mac Spartan Plus Macintosh
  • 1997 Spartan version 4 Unix
  • 1997 PC Spartan Plus Windows
  • 1999 Spartan version 5 Unix
  • 1999 PC Spartan Pro Windows
  • 2000 Mac Spartan Pro Macintosh
  • 2002 Spartan'02 Unix, Linux, Windows, Mac

Windows, Macintosh, Linux versions

  • 2004 Spartan'04
  • 2006 Spartan'06
  • 2008 Spartan'08
  • 2010 Spartan'10
  • 2013 Spartan'14
  • 2016 Spartan'16
  • 2018 Spartan'18
  • 2021 Spartan'20
  • 2024 Spartan'24