Kinetic data and their interpretation - Solvation (solvent effect)
3 important questions on Kinetic data and their interpretation - Solvation (solvent effect)
What is the solvent effect?
The solvent effect is the effect solvation has on the reaction rate. When a substrate is solved in water hydrogen bonds stabilize the grounds state thereby making it less reactive.
How do enzymes use the solvent effect?
Many enzymes have a hydrophobic (apolar, aprotic) pocket in their catalytic centre, thereby desolvating the substrate and reducing the dG‡.
How does solvation affect the pKa?
Solvation stabilizes charged compounds more than neutral compounds, so a protonated compound will be less stabilized inside the hydrophobic cavities. This leads to a shift of the acid-base equilibrium inside these cavities, i.e. to a decreased pKa.
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