Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 2026

Interactive Molecular Model Assembly with 3D Printing
Published on: August 13, 2020
Torsionator: Dihedral Parameterization and Conformer Search Made Easy
Giorgia Brosio1, Alice Triveri1, Pietro Vidossich1
1Laboratory of Molecular Modelling & Drug Discovery, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, Genoa16163, Italy.
Abstract:
Neural network potentials (NNPs), trained on quantum mechanical (QM) data, can deliver near QM-level accuracy while being much faster than QM calculations. In this work, we introduce a new software tool, Torsionator, which currently supports MACE, OBIWAN, and UMA NNPs for energy minimization of small molecules. Torsionator can analyze a set of selected conformers to parameterize the dihedral angles. These dihedral parameters can then be used for molecular mechanics calculations and simulations. We showcase Torsionator by performing dihedral scanning and parameterization of two representative antiviral compounds: favipiravir defluoro analog T1105 and emivirine. To thoroughly evaluate its robustness and general applicability, we benchmarked Torsionator using MACE on the TorsionNet500 dataset, comprising 500 chemically diverse small molecules with reference QM torsional profiles. These results indicate Torsionator as a practical, efficient, and scalable software tool for dihedral parameterization, enabling its routine integration into molecular simulation workflows.
Related Concept Videos
Conformations of Cyclohexane
The chair form is the most stable and derives its name from its resemblance to the “easy chair.” In the chair conformation, two carbon atoms are arranged out-of-plane — one above and one below, minimizing the torsional strain. In the chair form, the bond angle is very close to the ideal tetrahedral value,...
Chair Conformation of Cyclohexane
The hydrogen atoms linked to carbons are arranged in two different axial and equatorial orientations to achieve this staggered...
Conformations of Ethane and Propane
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered ethane, the...
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
Conformations of Butane
Newman Projections
The organic molecules rotate across the single bonds leading to numerous temporary three-dimensional structures of varying energy known as conformers.

