Analysis of Benzenoid Substitution Patterns in Small Molecule Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

06 November 2019, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

An analysis of benzenoid substitution patterns in small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) approved by the FDA reveals a preference for 1,4-substituted (para), 1-substituted (mono), 1,2,4-substituted, and 1,2-substituted (ortho) arenes. Notably, these substitution patterns are widely commercially available and readily accessible by electrophilic aromatic substitution (SEAr), but more highly substituted and contra-electronic substitution patterns are severely underrepresented in drug substances. Finally, structural variation decreases with increasing substitution and there is a strong reliance on natural product scaffolds in drugs with more highly substituted benzenoid rings.

Keywords

active pharmaceutical ingredients
benzenoid rings
natural products

Comments

Comments are not moderated before they are posted, but they can be removed by the site moderators if they are found to be in contravention of our Commenting Policy [opens in a new tab] - please read this policy before you post. Comments should be used for scholarly discussion of the content in question. You can find more information about how to use the commenting feature here [opens in a new tab] .
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy [opens in a new tab] and Terms of Service [opens in a new tab] apply.