Ion Pairing Kinetics Does not Necessarily Follow the Eigen-Tamm Mechanism

The most recognized and employed model of the solvation equilibration in the ionic solutions was proposed by Eigen and Tamm, in which there are four major states for an ion pair in the solution: the completely solvated state, 2SIP (double solvent separate ion pair), SIP (single solvent separate ion pair), and CIP (contact ion pair). Eigen and Tamm suggested that the transition from SIP to CIP is always the slowest step during the whole pairing process, due to a high free energy barrier between these two states. We carried out a series of potential of mean force calculations to study the pairing free energy profiles of two sets of model mono-atomic 1:1 ion pairs 2.0:x and x:2.0. For 2.0:x pairs the free energy barrier between the SIP and CIP states is largely reduced due to the salvation shell water structure. For these pairs the SIP to CIP transition is thus not the slowest step in the ion pair formation course. Thisis a deviation from the Eigen-Tamm model