14N electric field gradient in trimethylamine complexes as a diagnostic for formation of ion pairs

Electric field gradients at N and Cl nuclei are calculated as functions of separation in ion-pair and neutral-monomer models of (CH3)3N/F2 and (CH3)3N/ClF. Comparison of the predictions with the previously measured nuclear quadrupole coupling constants for these complexes supports the attribution of significant ion-pair character to both species.