Enthalpies of solution of a series of m-alkoxy phenols in water, n-octanol and water-n-octanol mutually saturated: derivation of the thermodynamic parameters for solute transfer between these solvents.

Enthalpies of solution in both water and n-octanol have been determined for a series of phenols, in a microcalorimeter modified for titration. The thermodynamic data for solution in n-octanol and in water, as well as for transfer between the two, have been calculated from the free energies of transfer, based upon partition coefficients, and the free energies of solution, based upon solubility data. The results are discussed in terms of solute-solvent interactions in both phases and are used to assess, critically, the use of n-octanol as lipid-like solvent in QSAR studies.