Theoretical study of hydrogen-bonded complexes of chlorophenols with water or ammonia:: Correlations and predictions of pKa values

A simple practical method for predicting the acidity constants (as pK(a) values) of chlorophenols is proposed based on density functional theory calculations of a series of hydrogen-bonded complexes of phenol and 19 different congeners of chlorophenol, with a single probe molecule, either water or ammonia. Relevant structural parameters and molecular properties of these complexes, primarily involving the acidic hydroxyl group, are examined and plotted against the known pK(a) values of 14 chlorophenols and phenol. Strong linear correlations are found for these compounds. Such correlations are used to determine the pK(a) values of five chlorophenols whose experimental acidities have large uncertainties. Similar predicted pK(a) values are obtained by using different structural parameters and molecular properties for the complexes with either probe molecule. The study may be extended to determine the acidity of other compounds with a single acidic functional group.