| Abstract: | Heats of formation calculated by MINDO /3 are reported for 42 carbocations for which experimental heats of formation have been published. Errors associated with these calculations can be large, with an overall range of ±13 kcal/mol. Correction of systematic errors in the MINDO /3 calculations by means of hydrocarbon models and isodesmic relationships results in a reduction in the range of errors to ±8 kcal/mol. Comparison with experimental heats of reaction of hydride transfer equilibria minimizes experimental errors and gives an average absolute error of 2 kcal/mol with a range of ±3 kcal/mol. |
