Publication: Accuracy of computational solvation free energies for neutral and ionic compounds: Dependence on level of theory and solvent model

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Title	Accuracy of computational solvation free energies for neutral and ionic compounds: Dependence on level of theory and solvent model
Authors/Editors*	S Rayne, K Forest
Where published*	Nature Precedings
How published*	Other
Year*	2010
Volume
Number
Pages
Publisher	Nature Publishing Group
Keywords	Solvation free energy; Solvation models; Hartree-Fock; Density functional theory; Composite methods
Link	http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2010.4864.1
Abstract	Gas to aqueous phase standard state (1 atm to 1 mol/L; 298.15 K) free energies of solvation (ΔGosolv) were calculated for a range of neutral and ionic inorganic and organic compounds using various levels and combinations of Hartree-Fock and density functional theory (DFT) and composite methods (CBS-Q//B3, G4MP2, and G4) with the IEFPCM-UFF, CPCM, and SMD solvation models in Gaussian 09 (G09). For a subset of highly polar and generally polyfunctional neutral organic compounds previously identified as problematic for prior solvation models, we find significantly reduced ΔGosolv errors using the revised solvent models in G09. The use of composite methods for these compounds also substantially reduces their apparent ΔGosolv errors. In contrast, no general level of theory effects between the B3LYP/6-31+G** and G4 methods were observed on a suite of simpler neutral, anionic, and cationic molecules commonly used to benchmark solvation models. Further investigations on mono- and polyhalogenated short chain alkanes and alkenes and other possibly difficult functional groups also revealed significant ΔGosolv error reductions by increasing the level of theory from DFT to G4. Future solvent model benchmarking efforts should include high level composite method calculations to allow better discrimination of potential error sources between the levels of theory and the solvation models.

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