Extension of MST/SCRF method to organic solvents:Ab initio and semiempirical parametrization for neutral solutes in CCl4

The self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) method proposed by Miertus, Scrocco, and Tomasi (MST) was extended to solutions of neutral solutes in CCl4. A detailed parametrization of the solute/solvent interface and of the “hardness” atomic parameters determining the van der Waals interactions was performed from comparison with experimental data and Monte Carlo simulations. The parametrization was carried out at both ab initio (6-31G*) and semiempirical (MNDO, AM1, PM3) levels. The MST/SCRF optimized versions provide accurate estimates of the free energy of solvation in CCl4 for the series of molecules studied. Furthermore, a precise description of the solvent effect on different chemical processes in CCl4 solution supports the reliability of the parametrization.