Conformational Preference of Flavonols and Its Effect on the Chemical Properties Involved in Radical Scavenging Activity

Flavonols are compounds with radical-scavenging activities that can prevent the harmful effects of free radicals. Their activity has attracted significant attention. Recently, quantum chemistry-based methodologies have significantly improved understanding due to dramatic increases in computational power and software improvements. A standardized analysis method for estimating radical scavenging activity, mechanics-based test overall (QM-ORSA), been proposed. An obstacle applying QM-ORSA protocol flavonols is large number conformers hydroxy groups analysis. In this study, we focused on it analyzed conformational dependences three (myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol) their chemical properties: bond dissociation energy, pKa, ionization energy. As a result, all properties were insensitive differences. The search should be performed separately each gas phase aqueous solution because differences major conformer (relative population conformer). These results suggest important perform water determine one representative structure analyzing activity.