Predicting hexadecane–air equilibrium partition coefficients (L) using a group contribution approach constructed from high quality data

Abstract

A group contribution-based quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) for the hexadecane–air equilibrium partition coefficients (L) of organic chemicals is developed using the iterative fragment selection (IFS) approach. This new QSPR includes in its training and external validation data sets L values for a large number of structurally complex chemicals measured by the same group using consistent methods. The resulting QSPR has better predictive power than other prediction methods trained primarily using data for chemicals of simpler structures, and measurements of L values from diverse sources. For a subset of chemicals in which the L values have non-additive effects caused by intramolecular hydrogen bonds, the new QSPR gives much better performance in comparison to the most commonly used prediction method.

Keywords:

• hexadecane–air partition coefficient
• group contribution method
• QSPR
• LFER
• iterative fragment selection
• complex chemicals

Acknowledgements

Funding by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is gratefully acknowledged. The author is also indebted to Angelika Stenzel for providing the two data sets of L values.