Hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen-bond network for a methane pair in liquid water.
We employ fully quantum-mechanical molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate the force between two methanes dissolved in water, as a model for hydrophobic association. A stable configuration is found near the methane-methane contact separation, while a shallow second potential minimum occurs for the solvent-separated configuration. The strength and shape of the potential of mean force are in conflict with earlier classical force-field simulations but agree well with a simple hydrophobic burial model which is based on solubility experiments. Examination of solvent dynamics reveals stable water cages at several specific methane-methane separations.
Li
Je-Luen
JL
Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
Car
Roberto
R
Tang
Chao
C
Wingreen
Ned S
NS