title: I-SOLV: a new surface-based empirical model for computing solvation free energies.
abstract: We have developed a new empirical model, I-SOLV, for computing solvation free energies of neutral organic molecules. It computes the solvation free energy of a solute molecule by summing up the contributions from its component atoms. The contribution from a certain atom is determined by the solvent-accessible surface area as well as the surface tension of this atom. A total of 49 atom types are implemented in our model for classifying C, N, O, S, P, F, Cl, Br and I in common organic molecules. Their surface tensions are parameterized by using a data set of 532 neutral organic molecules with experimentally measured solvation free energies. A head-to-head comparison of our model with several other solvation models was performed on a test set of 82 molecules. Our model outperformed other solvation models, including widely used PB/SA and GB/SA models, with a mean unsigned error as low as 0.39 kcal/mol. Our study has demonstrated again that well-developed empirical solvation models are not necessarily less accurate than more sophisticated theoretical models. Empirical models may serve as appealing alternatives due to their simplicity and accuracy.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 354 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, PR China. wangrx@mail.sioc.ac.cn
authors.forename: Renxiao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tiejun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D012984:Software; D012997:Solvents; D055672:Static Electricity; D013500:Surface Tension; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012997:Solvents