Accurate ab initio-based molecular potentials:: from extrapolation methods to global modelling

Accurate molecular potentials are key in theoretical chemical physics and therefore demands for suitable modelling strategies remain pressing. In this combination of a review and new results, we shall address methods to: (i) extrapolate to the one-electron basis set limit, (ii) predict a higher-quality ab initio potential by electron correlation scaling and (iii) refine iteratively an ab initio-based potential through variational calculations to reach near spectroscopic accuracy.