Expanded solubility parameter approach. II: p-Hydroxybenzoic acid and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate in individual solvents.

The recently introduced four-parameter extended Hansen approach was used to study the solubility of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate in 32 and 35 individual solvents, respectively. The results are compared with those for benzoic acid in 40 solvents. Seventeen of the thirty-two or 53% of the calculated solubilities of p-hydroxybenzoic acid were within the established solubility criterion (i.e., less than 30% error from the experimental value). Twenty-two of thirty-six or 61% of the calculated solubility values for methyl p-hydroxybenzoate met the solubility criterion. Experimental excess free energies of solution for p-hydroxybenzoic acid and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate were plotted against theoretical values using the expanded four-parameter solubility regression equations. From such results, adjustments may be made in the partial solubility parameters to bring the calculated solubilities in line with experimental results. Multiple regression analyses were used to estimate the total solubility parameter and the four partial solubility parameters of the two benzoic acid derivatives. Satisfactory results were obtained for methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, but poor agreement was found for p-hydroxybenzoic acid for the total parameter when compared with the Fedors group contribution method. Both the multiple regression and group contribution methods may yield inaccurate solubility parameters for relatively polar solid solutes. Factor analysis was used to test the adequacy of three- and four-parameter approaches in the evaluation of drug solubility. A principal factor method without iteration and orthogonal factor rotation were used to compare the two expanded solubility parameter approaches.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)