Link Search Menu Expand Document

QCG Keywords

This page contains the documentation of available keywords for QCG. Required arguments will be marked with < >, optional arguments are marked by brackets [ ].

Table of contents

  1. QCG Runtypes
    1. Grow Algorithm Options
    2. Ensemble Algorithm Options
    3. Solvation Free Energy Options

The QCG extension of CREST can be invoked via the command line. To activate QCG, use a command similar to

crest <SOLUTE> -qcg <SOLVENT> [OPTIONS]

Two files containing <SOLUTE> and <SOLVENT> coordinates have to be provided that can be in any format supported by CREST. The general and technical command line options of CREST also apply for the QCG runtype (see Keyword Documentation). Take care to always set the number of cores with --T <INT>. The [OPTIONS] that can be used in conjunction with -qcg are documented below.

QCG Runtypes

RuntypeCommandDescription
Grow algorithm--growThe [default] runtype of QCG. The grow algorithm is employed without ensemble generation. See here.
Ensemble algorithm--ensembleThe grow algorithm is employed with ensemble generation. See here.
Solvation Free Energy--gsolvGenerates ensembles to compute the solvation free energy. See here.

Grow Algorithm Options

CommandDescription
--nsolv <INT>Number of solvents that should be added.
--nopreoptDoes not perform a GFN2-xTB preoptimization of the input structures.
--keepdirSaves the temporary directories of QCG calculations.
--gfn1, --gfn2, --gfnffUse GFN1-xTB, GFN2-xTB [default], or GFN-FF for geometry optimization during the QCG Grow algorithm.
--samerandUse the same random number for the xTB-IFF runs.
--chrg <INT>Set the charge for the solute and creates .CHRG file.
--uhf <INT>Set the number of unpaired electrons for the solute and creates .UHF file.
--wscal <REAL>Set the scaling factor for the outer wall potential. The default is 1.0 except for water.
--fixsoluteFix the solute during the grow process (automatically done for water as solvent).
--nofixNo fixing of the solute during the grow process (fixing is only applied for water as solvent file).
--xtbiffUse the old xtbiff binary for docking instead of the recommended aISS algorithm available with xtb. The xtbiff can be obtained at the xtbiff GitHub repository .
--normdockUse the docking algorithm during the grow algorithm with normal settings (per default, reduced settings are applied for a faster search). This is only possible in combination with the aISS algorithm.
--directed <FILE>Employ the directed docking feature of the aISS algorithm implemented in xtb to solvate specific atoms of the solute. For details about the format of <FILE> see here.

Ensemble Algorithm Options

CommandDescription
--qcgmtdPerform an ensemble generation with the NCI-MTD runtype with parameters adjusted for solutions. [default]
--ncimtdPerform an ensemble generation with the NCI-MTD runtype.
--mtdPerform an ensemble generation with a single MTD simulation.
--mdPerform an ensemble generation with a single MD simulation.
--enslvl gfn1, --enslvl gfn2, --enslvl gfnffUse GFN1-xTB, GFN2-xTB [default], or GFN-FF for MD or MTD simulation and geometry optimizations during the ensemble generation. For the NCI-MTD runtype GFN-FF is the [default].
--len <REAL>, --mdlen <REAL>, --mdtime <REAL>Set the MD or MTD length in ps.
--mddump <INT>Set the dumping frequency of the MTD simulations.
--tstep <INT>Set the MD or MTD time step in fs.
--vbdump <INT>Set the dumping interval (in ps) for which a new reference structure is taken for the bias potential.
--norotmdTurn off the additional MDs on the lowest conformers after the MTD simulations in the NCI-MTD runtype.
--tnmd <REAL>Set the temperature for the additional MDs in the NCI-MTD runtype.
--mreset <INT>Set maximum number of MTD restarts of the NCI-MTD run-type
---fin_opt_gfn2Perform final GFN2-xTB optimization after grow step and evaluate ensemble after ensemble step with GFN2-xTB. Only applicable if GFN2-xTB is not used for grow and ensemble step.

Solvation Free Energy Options

CommandDescription
--nocffGenerate the reference ensemble with the same method the solute–solvent ensemble was generated instead of the CFF algorithm
--esolvCompute only the pure solvation energy without frequency calculations.
--nclus [INT]Set the number of solute–solvent clusters to take further into account. The highest populated clusters are considered. If [INT] is not set, a number is determined according to the population distribution (max. 10).
--freqlvl gfn1, --freqlvl gfn2, --freqlvl gfnffUse GFN1-xTB, GFN2-xTB, or GFN-FF [default] for frequency in QCG solvation free energy calculations.
--freqscal <REAL>Only for printout: Set a scaling factor for the translational and rotational entropy. [default] is <REAL>=0.75.

Back to top

Copyright © 2022-2024 Philipp Pracht.

CREST is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.