Abstract
The quantitative structure activity relationship paradigm provides an excellent avenue for investigating ligand–receptor interactions in medicinal chemistry/toxicology. Lateral validation of models formulated using this approach allows for a cohesive understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of a specific class of related molecules. The diverse biological activities of substituted phenols (X-phenols) in organisms that run the gamut from protozoa to animals are herein examined and compared. Correlations between biological activities and physicochemical attributes of X-phenols reveal strong consistencies between various models. Two parameters in particular, hydrophobicity and electronic terms dominate the extent of interactions between these chemical entities and their molecular targets. Hydrophobicity is represented by π values or partition coefficients while electronic contributions are delineated by molecular orbital indices or Hammett sigma constants. They help us to define the similarity in these mechanistic models that allow for an understanding of forces that are at play at the molecular level.
