Alessandro Iannini

Mr. Alessandro Iannini

University Tor Vergata, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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6 December 2022 in Molecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SPSilvia Pezzola
Silvia Pezzola
STSamuele Tarallo
Samuele Tarallo
AIAlessandro Iannini
Alessandro Iannini
Mariano VENANZIMariano VENANZI
Mariano VENANZI
Pierluca GalloniPierluca Galloni
Pierluca Galloni
FSFederica Sabuzi
Federica Sabuzi
Computational chemistry is a valuable tool, as it allows for in silico prediction of key parameters of novel compounds, such as pKa. In the framework of computational pKa determination, the literature offers several approaches based on different level of theories, functionals and continuum solvation models. However, correction factors are often used to provide reliable models that adequately predict pKa. In this work, an accurate protocol based on a direct approach is proposed for computing phenols pKa. Importantly, this methodology does not require the use of correction factors or mathematical fitting, making it highly practical, easy to use and fast. Above all, DFT calculations performed in the presence two explicit water molecules using CAM-B3LYP functional with 6-311G+dp basis set and a solvation model based on density (SMD) led to accurate pKa values. In particular, calculations performed on a series of 13 differently substituted phenols provided reliable results, with a mean absolute error of 0.3. Furthermore, the model achieves accurate results with -CN and -NO2 substituents, which are usually excluded from computational pKa studies, enabling easy and reliable pKa determination in a wide range of phenols.