ANI neural network potentials for small molecule pKa prediction

The pK(a) value of a molecule is of interest to chemists across a broad spectrum of fields including pharmacology, environmental chemistry and theoretical chemistry. Determination of pK(a) values can be accomplished through several experimental methods such as NMR techniques and titration together with computational techniques such as DFT calculations. However, all of these methods remain time consuming and computationally expensive. In this work we develop a method for the rapid calculation of pK(a) values of small molecules which utilises a combination of neural network potentials, low energy conformer searches and thermodynamic cycles. We show that neural network potentials trained on different phase and charge states can be employed in tandem to predict the full thermodynamic energy cycle of molecules. Focusing here on imidazolium derived carbene species, the method utilised can easily be extended to other functional groups of interest such as amines with further training.