Binding in complex ionic systems: anticooperative effects in systems stabilized by electrostatic interactions

We compute the binding energies of complexes involving more than two molecu lar ions. More specifically, complexes constituted by acetate anions and ei ther tetramethylammonium or sodium cations have been considered. Calculatio ns have been performed at the ab initio HF and MP2 levels using the 6-31 G(d) basis set. Solvation effects have been represented by a continuum reac tion field procedure. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.