Missing OPLS-AA Parameters for ClO₄⁻ in EMC (Perchlorate Ion Not Recognized)

Hi all,

I am trying to build a liquid mixture containing perchlorate anions (ClO₄⁻), Na⁺ ions, acetonitrile, DMSO, water, and benzaldehyde (BAL) using the OPLS-AA 2024 force field in EMC.

EMC works correctly on my PC for common molecules such as DMSO, ACN, water, and BAL. However, when I add ClO₄⁻, EMC stops with missing-rule errors:

Warning: no rule found for {group, site} = {CLO4, 0}.
Warning: no rule found for {group, site} = {CLO4, 1}.
Warning: no rule found for {group, site} = {CLO4, 2}.
Warning: no rule found for {group, site} = {CLO4, 3}.
Warning: no rule found for {group, site} = {CLO4, 4}.
Error: core/fields.c:433 FieldsApply:
       Missing rules.
       Program aborted.

My current .esh input is:

#=======================================================
ITEM    OPTIONS
replace         true
field           opls-aa
number          true
field_charge    false
density         0.3
focus           true
build_dir       .
ITEM    END
#=======================================================
ITEM    SHORTHAND
    BAL:c=o     [c-0.09]1([H+0.09])[c-0.09]([H+0.09])[c-0.09]([H+0.09])[c+0.04]([c-0.09]([H+0.09])[c-0.09]1([H+0.09]))[c+0.39]([H+0.00])=[O-0.43],10
    SPCE:c=o    [O-0.848]([H+0.424])([H+0.424]),40
    ACN:c=o     [C-0.233]([H+0.108])([H+0.108])([H+0.108])[C+0.402]#[N-0.493],10
    NA:c=o      [Na+1.000],10
    CLO4:c=o    [Cl+1.4]([O-0.6])([O-0.6])([O-0.6])([O-0.6]),10
ITEM    END
#=======================================================

For reference, I have attached the relevant OPLS-AA field files which I use for making acetonitrile, DMSO, and BAL.

I am still a beginner with EMC, so I am unsure how to properly add a new molecule type to the OPLS-AA field files. Could anyone advise which entries should be added to the EMC OPLS-AA .define, .top, and .prm files to support atomistic ClO₄⁻?

Any guidance or example of adding a new ion or molecule to EMC would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

opls-aa.define (105.6 KB)

opls-aa.prm (65.4 KB)

opls-aa.top (18.3 KB)