Multipole moments such as charge, dipole, and quadrupole are often invoked to rationalize intermolecular phenomena, but a low-order multipole expansion is rarely a valid description of electrostatics at the length scales that characterize nonbonded interactions. This is illustrated by examining several common misunderstandings rooted in erroneous electrostatic arguments. First, the notion that steric repulsion originates in Coulomb interactions is easily disproved by dissecting the interaction potential for Ar2. Second, the Hunter-Sanders model of π–π interactions, which is based on quadrupolar electrostatics, is shown to have no basis in accurate calculations. Third, curved “buckybowls” exhibit unusually large dipole moments, but these are ancillary to the forces that control their intermolecular interactions, as illustrated by two examples involving corannulene. Finally, the assumption that interactions between water and small anions are dictated by the dipole moment of H2O is shown to be false in the case of binary halide–water complexes. Furthermore, these examples present a compelling case that electrostatic explanations based on low-order multipole moments are very often counterfactual for nonbonded interactions at close range and should not be taken seriously in the absence of additional justification.
Herbert, John M.. "Neat, Simple, and Wrong: Debunking Electrostatic Fallacies Regarding Noncovalent Interactions." Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory, vol. 125, no. 33, Aug. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.1c05962
Herbert, John M. (2021). Neat, Simple, and Wrong: Debunking Electrostatic Fallacies Regarding Noncovalent Interactions. Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory, 125(33). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.1c05962
Herbert, John M., "Neat, Simple, and Wrong: Debunking Electrostatic Fallacies Regarding Noncovalent Interactions," Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory 125, no. 33 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.1c05962
@article{osti_1833483,
author = {Herbert, John M.},
title = {Neat, Simple, and Wrong: Debunking Electrostatic Fallacies Regarding Noncovalent Interactions},
annote = {Multipole moments such as charge, dipole, and quadrupole are often invoked to rationalize intermolecular phenomena, but a low-order multipole expansion is rarely a valid description of electrostatics at the length scales that characterize nonbonded interactions. This is illustrated by examining several common misunderstandings rooted in erroneous electrostatic arguments. First, the notion that steric repulsion originates in Coulomb interactions is easily disproved by dissecting the interaction potential for Ar2. Second, the Hunter-Sanders model of π–π interactions, which is based on quadrupolar electrostatics, is shown to have no basis in accurate calculations. Third, curved “buckybowls” exhibit unusually large dipole moments, but these are ancillary to the forces that control their intermolecular interactions, as illustrated by two examples involving corannulene. Finally, the assumption that interactions between water and small anions are dictated by the dipole moment of H2O is shown to be false in the case of binary halide–water complexes. Furthermore, these examples present a compelling case that electrostatic explanations based on low-order multipole moments are very often counterfactual for nonbonded interactions at close range and should not be taken seriously in the absence of additional justification.},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jpca.1c05962},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1833483},
journal = {Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory},
issn = {ISSN 1089-5639},
number = {33},
volume = {125},
place = {United States},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
year = {2021},
month = {08}}
The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0008550
OSTI ID:
1833483
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory Journal Issue: 33 Vol. 125; ISSN 1089-5639