Molecular Insights on Solvent Effects in Organic Reactions as Obtained through Computational Chemistry Tools

Molecular understanding of the role of protic solvents in a gamut of organic transformations can be developed using density functional and ab initio computational studies focused on the reaction mechanism. Inclusion of explicit solvent molecules in the vital TSs has been proven to be valuable toward improving the energetic estimates of organocatalytic as well as transition-metal-catalyzed organic reactions. Herein, we provide an overview of the importance of an explicit-implicit solvation model using a number of interesting examples.

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In this paper, the molecular understanding of the role of protic solvents in organic transformations is explored using density functional and ab initio computational studies. The inclusion of explicit solvent molecules in crucial transition states has been found to improve the energetic estimates of organocatalytic and transition-metal-catalyzed reactions. An overview of the importance of an explicit-implicit solvation model is provided with the help of interesting examples.