Property prediction and consistency analysis by a reference series method

Data analysis and prediction of pure component properties of long-chain substances is considered. The emphasis is on homologous series and properties for which insufficient data are available. A two-stage procedure is recommended, whereby a linear (or nonlinear) quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) is fitted to a "reference" series, for which an adequate amount of precise data is available. This QSPR should represent correctly both the available data and the asymptotic behavior of the property. In the second stage a quantitative property-property relationship (QPPR) is derived to represent the predicted property values of a "target" series in terms of the property values of the reference series. The procedure is applied for properties which are highly correlated with the number methylene groups in homologous series: ΔH_f⁰ and ΔS_f⁰. It is shown that the method is very useful for consistency analysis of property data and enables a reliable prediction of ΔH_f⁰ and ΔS_f⁰, and, thus, also of ΔG_f⁰ for long-chain substances.