Theoretical pKa prediction of the α-phosphate moiety of uridine 5′-diphosphate-GlcNAc

• A rational method to predict the absolute pKa of alkyl phosphates was established.
• The model satisfactorily reproduced the experimental pKa for UPD-GlcNAc.
• Its pKa supports its potential role as a general base in biocatalysis.