Solvent effect of aqueous media on properties of glycine: Significance of specific and bulk solvent effects, and geometry optimization in aqueous media

Abstract

AbstractGeometries of the normal (N) and zwitterionic (Z) forms of glycine (gly) and their complexes gly.(H2O)n, n = 0–2, were fully optimized in gas phase and aqueous media, and transition states located between the corresponding N and Z forms. The geometry was also optimized and vibrational spectra calculated for the gly.(H2O)3 complex of Z glycine. Density functional theory at the B3LYP/AUG‐cc‐pVDZ level was employed for the geometry optimization calculations in gas phase and aqueous media while single point energy calculations were performed at the MP2/AUG‐cc‐pVDZ level in each case. Solvation in bulk water was treated using the polarizable continuum model (PCM). Zero‐point energy correction to total energy and thermal energy correction to enthalpy were obtained at the B3LYP/AUG‐cc‐pVDZ level of theory in both gas phase and bulk aqueous media and these corrections were also considered to be valid for the corresponding single point energy calculations performed at the MP2/AUG‐cc‐pVDZ level of theory. When geometries of the complexes of glycine with water molecules are optimized in aqueous media, the calculated properties are found to be appreciably modified with respect to those obtained by gas phase geometry optimization followed by solvation in aqueous media. For several vibrational frequencies, the agreement between the calculated and experimentally observed results is improved appreciably when both the specific and bulk solvent effects are considered in combination with full geometry optimization in aqueous media. For certain vibrational frequencies, mode assignments have also been modified. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008