Match Molecule

Match parts of molecules using SMILES like query strings.

Description / Examples

This modifier allows you to select sections of molecules using query strings. The queries employ a simplified version of SMILES, SMILES, where molecules are defined using strings.

Original by Fdardel, slight edit by DMacks, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

Selecting linear molecules

For example, the string HOH defines the water molecule (H-O-H).

Adding side chains

Use parentheses (), To define more complex molecules. To select the submolecule:

  O
   \
     N - C - C -
   /
H-O

you might use the query string ON(OH)CC, where (OH) indicates a side chain branching off from the preceding N atom.

Selecting multi-letter elements

To select this group of atoms:

- C - Fe -
  |   |
  H   O
      |
      H

you could use the query C(H)"Fe"(OH). Multi-letter chemical elements need to be enclosed in single ' or double quotes ". An equivalent formulation would be C(H)"Fe"OH.

Adding wildcards / placeholders

Use the ? wildcard to match multiple sub-molecules. For instance, H?H matches both the H-O-H and H-N-H molecules (and any other molecule where two H atoms are connected by a single bridge atom).

Creating additional bonds

This syntax can be limiting, so you might need to manually add bonds to your string. To select this group of atoms:

- C - N 
    /   \*
   C      C - C -
   \     /
    C - C

Use CNCCCCC to select all atoms in this sub-molecule. This would give you the following selection:

- C - N 
    /   
   C      C - C -
   \     /
    C - C

where one ring closing bond is missing. Numerical tags can be used to include this bond (marked with * in the initial image). The query string CN1CCCC1C correctly selects all atoms and bonds shown in the image, including the bond marked with *:

- C - N1
    /   \*
   C      C1 - C -
   \     /
    C - C

All atoms tagged with the same number will be linked, here N1 and C1 both having numerical tag 1.

Application selecting O-C-O

To select all O-C-O groups in this molecule: the following query string OCO can be used: This example can be found in examples/Example_01.ovito and examples/Example_01.py.

Application selecting rings and bridge atoms

To select all 5 rings containing 4 C and 1 N atom from this structure: The query string N1CCCC1 can be used: Here the N1 and C1 tags have to be used to ensure that the ring is closed. The position of the closing bond is not unique.

Alternative to select:

C
 \
   N - C
 /
C

The query string CN(C)C can be used. The resulting selection is shown here:

These two examples can be found in examples/Example_02.ovito, examples/Example_02.py, examples/Example_03.ovito, and examples/Example_03.py.

Parameters

GUI name	Python name	Description	Default value
Query	query	Query string used to select atoms and bonds.	""
Select particles	selectParticles	Create a selection for the particles defined by the query string.	True
Select bonds	selectBonds	Create a selection for the bonds defined by the query string.	True

Installation

• OVITO Pro integrated Python interpreter:

  ovitos -m pip install --user git+https://github.com/ovito-org/MatchMolecule.git
  

  The --user option is recommended and installs the package in the user's site directory.

• Other Python interpreters or Conda environments:

  pip install git+https://github.com/ovito-org/MatchMolecule.git
  

Technical information / dependencies

• Tested on OVITO version 3.10.6

Contact

• Daniel Utt ([email protected])