GENERAL PARAMETERIZATION OF A REACTION FIELD-THEORY COMBINED WITH THE BOUNDARY-ELEMENT METHOD

We described various technical aspects in applying reaction field theories using continuum models to practical problems. It was investigated how solvent-dependent properties of solute molecules are influenced by the following factors: difference in quantum-chemical description of solute-solvent (continuum dielectric) interaction, difference in values of empirically determinable parameters such as atomic radii to define a size of a cavity created in a dielectric to accommodate a solute, and difference in the sophistication level of molecular orbital calculation, including electron correlation and different parameter sets (MNDO, AM1, and PM3). Through these investigations, the better parameter sets were found to evaluate accurately physicochemically important parameters such as hydration enthalpy. (C) 1994 by John Wiley and Sons, Inc.