Comparison of global descriptors calculated using various density functionals: a QSAR perspective

Abstract

Conceptual density functional theory (DFT) based global reactivity descriptors are used to understand the relationship between structure, stability, and global chemical reactivity. Furthermore, these descriptors are employed in the development of quantitative structure-activity (QSAR), structure-property (QSPR), and structure-toxicity (QSTR) relationships. However, the predictive power of various relationships depends on the reliable estimates of these descriptors. The basic working equations used to calculate these descriptors contain both the ionization potential and the electron affinity of chosen molecules. Therefore, efficiency of different density functionals (DFs) in predicting the ionization potential and the electron affinity has to be systematically evaluated. With a view to benchmark the method of calculation of global reactivity descriptors, comprehensive calculations have been carried out on a series of chlorinated benzenes using a variety of density functionals employing different basis sets. In addition, to assess the utility of global reactivity descriptors, the relationships between the reactivity-electrophilicity and the structure-toxicity have been developed. The ionization potential and the electron affinity values obtained from M05-2X method using the ΔSCF approach are closer to the corresponding experimental values. This method reliably predicts these electronic properties when compared to the other DFT methods. The analysis of a series of QSTR equations reveals that computationally economic DFT functionals can be effectively and routinely applied in the development of QSAR/QSPR/QSTR.