Dielectric models, electrostatic solvation free

The non-polar component of the solvation free energy is especially important for implicit membrane models as it decreases from a significant positive contribution in aqueous solvent to near zero at the center of the phospholipid bilayer. Without a non-polar term, even hydrophobic solutes would in fact prefer the high-dielectric environment where the electrostatic solvation free energy is more favorable than in a low-dielectric medium. The functional form of the non-polar term may follow a simple switching function [79,80], a calculated free energy insertion profile for molecular oxygen [82,84], or may be parameterized as well with respect to simulation or experimental data. 

The final class of methods that we shall consider for calculating the electrostatic compone of the solvation free energy are based upon the Poisson or the Poisson-Boltzmann equatior Ihese methods have been particularly useful for investigating the electrostatic properties biological macromolecules such as proteins and DNA. The solute is treated as a body of co stant low dielectric (usually between 2 and 4), and the solvent is modelled as a continuum high dielectric. The Poisson equation relates the variation in the potential (f> within a mediu of uniform dielectric constant e to the charge density p ... 

The Self-Consistent Reaction Field (SCRF) model considers the solvent as a uniform polarizable medium with a dielectric constant of s, with the solute M placed in a suitable shaped hole in the medium. Creation of a cavity in the medium costs energy, i.e. this is a destabilization, while dispersion interactions between the solvent and solute add a stabilization (this is roughly the van der Waals energy between solvent and solute). The electric charge distribution of M will furthermore polarize the medium (induce charge moments), which in turn acts back on the molecule, thereby producing an electrostatic stabilization. The solvation (free) energy may thus be written as... 

Some work has also appeared describing MD with implicit solvation for solutes described at the DFT level. Fattebert and Gygi (2002) have proposed making the external dielectric constant a function of the electron density, thereby achieving a smooth transition from solute to solvent instead of adopting a sudden change in dielectric constant at a particular cavity surface. Non-electrostatic components of the solvation free energy have not been addressed in this model. 

A short overview of the quantum chemical and statistical physical methods of modelling the solvent effects in condensed disordered media is presented. In particular, the methods for the calculation of the electrostatic, dispersion and cavity formation contributions to the solvation energy of electroneutral solutes are considered. The calculated solvation free energies, proceeding from different geometrical shapes for the solute cavity are compared with the experimental data. The self-consistent reaction field theory has been used for a correct prediction of the tautomeric equilibrium constant of acetylacetone in different dielectric media,. Finally, solvent effects on the molecular geometry and charge distribution in condensed media are discussed. 

For many chemical problems, it is crucial to consider solvent effects. This was demonstrated in our recent studies on the hydration free energy of U02 and the model reduction of uranyl by water [232,233]. The ParaGauss code [21,22] allows to carry out DKH DF calculations combined with a treatment of solvent effects via the self-consistent polarizable continuum method (PCM) COSMO [227]. If one aims at a realistic description of solvated species, it is not sufficient to represent an aqueous environment simply as a dielectric continuum because of the covalent nature of the bonding between an actinide and aqua ligands [232]. Ideally, one uses a combination model, in which one or more solvation shells (typically the first shell) are treated quantum-mechanically, while long-range electrostatic and other solvent effects are accounted for with a continuum model. Both contributions to the solvation free energy of U02 were... 

GB models evaluate electrostatic part of solvation free energy as a sum of pairwise interaction terms between atomic charges. For a typical case of aqueous solvation of molecules with interior dielectric of 1, these interactions are approximated by an analytical function introduced by Still et al. [24] ... 

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