ROTATIONAL DIFFUSION OF ORGANIC SOLUTES - THE ROLE OF DIELECTRIC FRICTION IN POLAR-SOLVENTS AND ELECTROLYTE-SOLUTIONS

Experimental and computer simulation studies of the rotational relaxat ion of organic solutes in polar organic solvents and electrolyte solut ions are used to investigate the role of solute-solvent dielectric fri ction. These studies are used to explore the boundaries of applicabili ty for continuum based models of the dielectric frictional coupling an d to identify the important molecular mechanisms that define these bou ndaries. These investigations explore the importance of the solute cha rge distribution. solvent structure, ion pairing, and hydrogen bonding . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.