Using theoretical descriptors in quantitative structure activity relationships: Some physicochemical properties

Abstract The application of computational techniques to biology, chemistry and physics is growing rapidly. Quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) have been used widely to relate biological activities and physicochemical properties to molecular structural features. A difficulty in this approach has been non‐uniformity of parameter sets resulting in the inability to examine contributions across properties and data sets. Linear solvation energy relationships (LSER) developed by Kamlet and Taft successfully utilize a single set of parameters to correlate a wide range of biological, chemical and physical properties. The empirical LSER solvatochromic parameters have been replaced with theoretically determined parameters to permit greater ease in a priori property prediction. These TLSER descriptors have given good correlations and interpretations for some biological activities. This paper discusses the application of these descriptors to six physicochemical properties involving equilibria, kinetics and spectra. The results show good correlation and physical interpretation.