Big-Data Analysis of Geometric Descriptors as Efficient Predictors of Energetic Stability in Nonplanar Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Title
Big-Data Analysis of Geometric Descriptors as Efficient Predictors of Energetic Stability in Nonplanar Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Publication Date
2025-08-05
Author(s)
Gregory, Kasimir P
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8055-370X
Email: kgrego23@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:kgrego23
Karton, Amir
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7981-508X
Email: akarton@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:akarton
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Place of publication
United States
DOI
10.1002/jcc.70198
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/71206
Abstract

Accurate, efficient stability predictors are essential for understanding isomer formation in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with implications for pollution toxicity and carbon-material design, holding broad environmental and technological significance. Recently, a benchmark study demonstrated that PBE0-D4 reproduces CCSD(T)-level isomerization energies for 335 PAHs with a mean absolute deviation (MAD) of 0.67 kcal mol−1. Here, we apply the PBE0-D4/6-31G(2df,p) level of theory to 38,264 PAH isomers from the COMPAS-3x database and identify fast, geometry-based parameters that predict isomer stability. The total dihedral deviation (ΣDihedral) provides a cost-free nonplanarity metric yielding a mean absolute deviation (MAD) of 3.6 kcal mol−1, outperforming maximal z-displacement (MAD = 4.8 kcal mol−1) and the Harmonic Oscillator Model of Aromaticity (HOMA; MAD = 5.3 kcal mol−1). A combined ΣDihedral–HOMA model reduces the MAD to 2.5 kcal mol−1, and adding a fitted semiempirical xTB correction further lowers the MAD to 0.8 kcal mol−1. We implement these descriptors in the PAH Automated Property Scanner (PAHAPS) web tool, enabling rapid estimation of PAH isomer energies from molecular coordinates without intensive quantum calculations. This integrated approach facilitates large-scale screening and efficient design of stable PAH isomers for environmental and materials applications.

Link
Citation
Journal of Computational Chemistry, 46(21), p. 1-13
ISSN
1096-987X
0192-8651
Start page
1
End page
13
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International

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