On the performance of continuum solvation models for the solvation energy of small anions

The determination of continuum solvation models for the solvation energy of anions, was described. To investigate the reliability of the solvent model, a few explicit THF molecules were incorporated. A set of anions was chosen for which the experimental free energies of solvation were available for both H ₂O and DMSO solutions. A major difference between the water model and the DMSO model is that the latter systematically overestimates the free energy of solvation. The full water model in Jaguar v 4.2, including also nonelectrostatic terms, gives good correlation with experimental values for energy of solvation.