Microsolvation of uracil and its conjugate bases: a DFT study of the role of solvation on acidity.

The effect of microsolvation on the deprotonation energies of uracil was examined using DFT. The structures of uracil and its N(1) and N(3) conjugate bases were optimized with zero to six associated water molecules. Multiple configurations (upward of 93) of these hydrated clusters were located at PBE1PBE/6-311+G(d,p). Trends in these geometries are discussed, with the waters generally forming chains with small numbers of waters (one-three), rings (three-five waters), or cages (five-six waters). The difference in energy between the N1 and N3 conjugate bases is 13 kcal mol(-1) in the gas phase, and it decreases with each added water up to four. At this point the energy difference has been halved, but addition of a fifth or sixth water has little effect on the energy difference. This is understood in terms of the water structures and their ability to stabilize the negatively charged atoms in the conjugate bases.