Cavity-Free Continuum Solvation: Implementation and Parametrization in a Multiwavelet Framework

We present a multiwavelet-based implementation of a quantum/classical polarizable continuum model. The solvent model uses a diffuse solute–solvent boundary and a position-dependent permittivity, lifting the sharp-boundary assumption underlying many existing continuum solvation models. We are able to include both surface and volume polarization effects in the quantum/classical coupling, with guaranteed precision, due to the adaptive refinement strategies of our multiwavelet implementation. The model can account for complex solvent environments and does not need a posteriori corrections for volume polarization effects. We validate our results against a sharp-boundary continuum model and find a very good correlation of the polarization energies computed for the Minnesota solvation database.