Extended Hildebrand Solubility Approach: methylxanthines in mixed solvents.

The solubility profiles of theobromine, theophylline, and caffeine at 25 degrees were examined in binary solvent systems including dioxane-formamide, water-polyethylene glycol 400, and glycerin-propylene glycol. Theobromine solubility was studied in dioxane-water mixtures, a solvent system that was investigated earlier for the solubility of theophylline and caffeine. Solubilities were calculated in these polar systems by a regression method, based on an extension of the Hildebrand-Scatchard equation of regular solution theory. A linear relationship between the mixed solvent solubility parameter, and dielectric constant, epsilon, was introduced earlier and was confirmed in the present study. In addition, it was observed that a regression of log (activity coefficient) on epsilon in a second or higher degree polynomial provides reasonable solubility values for the methylxanthines in mixed solvents. A direct regression of molal or mole fraction (but not molar) solubility against delta 1, epsilon, or against volume percent of one or the other solvent in a binary solvent mixture provided a suitable measure of solubility for these crystalline drugs in mixed polar solvents. The drug's solubility parameter as determined from peak solubility in mixed polar solvents varied somewhat, depending on the specific solvent system employed. It is suggested that a drug may exhibit one (or more) solubility parameters in nonpolar solutions and multiple solubility parameters in polar systems. The extended solubility approach serves for the back-calculation of solubilities in mixed solvent systems, even though the solubility parameter of the solute may vary from one solvent system to the next.

Thermodynamics of aqueous solutions of parabens.

The solubility of a related series of parabens was determined in water at four temperatures. The parabens chosen were the methyl through n-butyl p-hydroxybenzoates, and the temperature variations were 5 degrees increments from 25 to 40 degrees. These solutes are useful preservatives, especially combinations of the methyl and propyl ester derivatives. The chemical relationship of these compounds varied by successive linear methylene additions on the ester portion of the molecules. The thermodynamic values obtained for these aqueous systems could be related to these molecular variants since the remainder of the molecule was constant. For the overall thermodynamics, the free energy functions such as the ideal, actual, and excess were found to be smooth, nonlinear functions of the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl portion of the paraben esters. A linear relationship with the number of carbon atoms in the ester portion of these esters was found with the partial excess free energy of the solute.

Solubility of calcium oxalate in 1-alkanols and ethanol--water mixtures.

Solubility profiles for calcium oxalate were determined in pure 1-alkanols and ethanol--water mixtures at 20 degrees. The magnitude of solubility in the aliphatic alcohols was highest in methanol and decreased in a nonlinear fashion as the dielectric constant decreased, going to n-decanol. In ethanol--water mixtures, the solubility increased nonlinearly with water content or increasing dielectric constants. The work factor for these systems was also calculated and, as expected, a "mirror image" to the solubility profiles was evidenced. In the mixed solvent system, a dramatic change in the magnitude of solubility occurred after a dielectric constant value of about 60, indicating ionic association or ion-pairs below this value. The Born relationship of solubility and ionic size was tested in the ethanol--water system, and the ionic size of the divalent species of about 2.27 A agreed with the theoretical ionic size of about 2.4 A. These results indicate that the water number of calcium is 8 or that a monolayer of dipoles surrounds this divalent cationic species.

Three-dimensional molecular illustrations II: Isoelectrostatic energy contour spheres of influence applied to narcotic molecules.

A computer-generated method using quantum mechanics was applied to the calculation and subsequent plotting of nonperspective three-dimensional illustrations of molecules in vacuo. The purpose was to generate isoelectrostatic energy contour spheres for larger molecules and current drugs. The molecules chosen, morphine, meperidine, and alphaprodine, possess similar pharmacological properties. Minor configurational manipulation of meperidine and alphaprodine molecules was made to approximate the spatial configuration of the rigid morphine molecule so that direct comparisons were possible. Common areas of reactivity, potential energy minima, net atomic charges, spatial regions, and near neighbor influences are considered.

Three-dimensional molecular illustrations I: Isoelectron density contours and isoelectrostatic energy contours.

A method of depicting dimensional illustrations of molecules in vacuo that are sensitive to small electronic perturbations was attempted. This method would be useful in determining the effects of either perturbing groups from other molecules or changes produced by the addition or modification of an existing atom or chemical group on the same molecule. Isoelectron density contours for small molecules such as benzene, ammonia, and formaldehyde were first considered using the CNDO/2 molecular approximation method and then extended to the use of deorthogonalized CNDO/2 eigenvectors. These methods were similar in molecular projections but insensitive to electronic alterations. Therefore, the electrostatic potential energy was considered in developing contour surfaces of several of the molecules studied. In this case, acute and visually discernible changes were evidenced by electron exchange in the three-dimensional illustration of formaldehyde. The effect on the two-dimensional contour map of ammonia was strikingly altered by the addition of a proton, further substantiating the sensitivity of electrostatic contours to perturbing influences. These methods are considered and amplified in this report.

Solubility profiles and thermodynamics of parabens in aliphatic alcohols.

The solubility of a series of compounds was determined in a wide polarity spectrum of normal aliphatic alcohols over a limited temperature range. The solutes chosen were the methyl through n-butyl p-hydroxybenzoates, several of these being useful preservatives. Solubility profiles were determined for these compounds, and the effect of temperature upon their solubility behavior was investigated. The solubility of the solutes is expressed in several concentration notations; mole fraction plots showed a variable twin peak array as a function of the dielectric constant for the solutes studied. Since heats of fusion were available and data were generated as a function of temperature, thermodynamic parameters for these systems could be calculated. The relationship of these parameters to multiple solubility peak array is discussed.

Molecular orbital calculations for parabens: a possible mechanism of action.

Molecular orbital calculations were carried out on the series benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, methylparaben, and ethylparaben. The characteristic trends of this entire series of preservatives are demonstrated by these members. The computer program used was Iterated Extended Hückel Theory. These systems were characterized in terms of atomic charge distributions, effect of hydroxyl and ester groups (both sterically and electronically), preferred molecular conformations, and distinguishing features of molecular orbitals. Through this approach, it was hoped that a common mode of action for all members of this series could be detected and that the trend(s) in this feature would correlate with known trends in activity of members of this series.

Solubility of straight-chain and branched alkyl barbiturates in straight-chain alcohols.

The solubilities of a series of chemically related barbiturates, including some medically useful ones as well as phenobarbital, were determined at 25 degrees in the straight-chain alcohols methanol through butanol. The solubility values are given in both milligrams per milliliter and the mole fraction notation. The solubility in methanol was the highest and decreased nonlinearly for the solubility in 1-butanol. In several cases, mole fraction solubility gave shouldering or peaking as a function of the carbon number of the solvent. This series of barbiturates was broken down into two subsets of straight-chain and branched alkyl barbiturates, and solubility ratios in these subsets were considered.

Solution thermodynamics of alkyl p-aminobenzoates.

Equilibrium solubilities of the first four homologous alkyl p-aminobenzoate esters were determined in methanol, ethanol, and 1-propanol at 25, 33, and 40 degrees; the esters and the alcohols comprise separate homologous series. The solution process of a solute may be considered to be the summation of two sequential steps, melting and mixing, and the magnitude of solubility depends upon temperature and the extent of interactions between solute and solvent molecules. Quantitative solute concentrations, obtained from spectrophotometric analysis, were converted to mole fractions. Statistical analysis of the logarithmic mole fraction solubilities of the aminobenzoates, which were linear with respect to both reciprocal absolute temperature and the logarithm of absolute temperature, generated enthalpies and entropies of solution, respectively. The heats of fusion and the melting points of these aminobenzoates were determined to calculate their ideal solubilities. Excess free energies and partial molal free energies of each solution were calculated from the activity coefficients of the solutes; the thermodynamic elements for these systems are discussed.