PNNL

Abstract

Large scale second order perturbation theory and couple cluster theory calculations were performed on the Na+(ethylene) and Na+(benzene) complexes in an effort to estimate binding enthalpies in the complete basis set limit. The resulting best estimates are DH0[Na+(ethylene)] = -13.7 ? 0.2 kcal/mol and DH0[Na+(benzene)] = -23.9 ? 0.3 kcal/mol, which include small corrections for core/valence correlation effects. The former value can be compared to a measurement of -10.3 ? 1.0 kcal/mol obtained from collision induced dissociation, while the latter value is approximately midway between the two existing experimental values which differed by 6.5 kcal/mol. For the basis sets considered in this study, the counterpoise-corrected binding energies were found to be in much worse agreement with the complete basis set limit than the raw values.