On the irrelevance of electrostatics for the crystal structures and polymorphism of long even n-alkanes

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

  • Jacco van de Streek
  • Paul Verwer
  • Piet Bennema
  • Elias Vlieg
It is known that the experimental triclinic crystal structures of even n-alkanes are not well reproduced upon energy minimization with current force fields. The inclusion of electrostatics does not solve this, and, moreover, some charge schemes show unphysical features such as positively charged carbon atoms or charge alternation. The effect of the electrostatics on the energies of the crystal structures of the even n-alkanes, and thereby on their polymorphism, has never been established. A new charge scheme is introduced that yields physically sensible charges without constraints. It will also be shown, however, that electrostatics are relevant neither for the structures of the crystals, nor for their energies.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Computational Chemistry
Vol/bind23
Udgave nummer3
Sider (fra-til)365-70
Antal sider6
ISSN0192-8651
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2002
Eksternt udgivetJa

ID: 44244970