A simplified high-pressure liquid chromatography method for determining lipophilicity for structure-activity relationships.

A highly deactivated octadecyl-bonded silica column and a mobile phase consisting of an water-methanol mixture in the range of blood pH and ionic strength are used to correlate log kappa' with biological activity for a series of sulfonamides and barbiturates. The results were compared to literature methods by using retention volume (VR) and retention indexes (I). For the nine sulfonamides tested, log VR and log kappa' were used with and without correction for ionization. For each biological end point (protein binding and minimum inhibitor concentration against Eschericia coli from two sources) and each independent variable (log kappa' and log VR) the residual standard derivation for the regression was determined. the standard derivations were compared in an F test for each of 12 relevant regressions. Log kappa' was statistically superior in for cases, while log VR was superior in one case. Overall, the methods were statistically indistinguishable. Log kappa' values and I values for 15 barbiturates were regressed against three biological end points [hypnotic activity (the minimum effective dose in rabbits), inhibition of Arbacia egg cell division, and inhibition of rat brain respiration]. Standard deviations were compared by an F test, and the two methods were indistinguishable as far as the goodness of biological correlations are concerned. Procedures for controlling the column's activity are presented. Choices for an appropriate mobile phase are discussed, and a method of calculating pH and ionic strength in a methanol-aqueous mobile phase is presented.