Structural Aspects of Aqueous Tetraalkylammonium Salt Solutions

Various thermodynamic and spectroscopic investigations on aqueous tetraalkylammonium salt solutions are reviewed from a structural viewpoint. At present, it is not yet clear what kind of water structure is formed around the alkyl groups of the large cations. However, the importance of "cosphere" overlap and ion-ion interaetion (cation-anion, cation-cation, cation-anion-cation, etc.) in determining the solution properties are emerging more clearly. In this regard, model calculations based on the approach of Friedman and his co-workers are expected to be of considerable value.