Microsolvation of glycine: a DFT study

PBE1PBE/6-311+G(d,p) computations exploring the microsolvation of neutral and zwitterionic glycine are reported. A broad configuration search was performed to identify the lowest energy clusters of glycine with one to seven water molecules. The structures of the clusters are analyzed on the basis of the hydrogen-bonding network established between the water molecules and between water and glycine. Neutral glycine is favored when associated with zero to six water molecules, but with seven water molecules the two structures are isoenergetic.