Models for liquid–liquid partition in the system propylene carbonate–organic solvent and their use for estimating descriptors for organic compounds

Partition coefficients for varied compounds were determined for the organic solvent–propylene carbonate biphasic partition system where the organic solvent is n-heptane, isopentyl ether or 1-octanol. These partition coefficient databases are analyzed using the solvation parameter model facilitating a quantitative comparison of the propylene carbonate-based partition systems with other totally organic partition systems. Propylene carbonate is a weak to intermediate cohesive solvent, reasonably dipolar/polarizable and hydrogen-bond basic, and weak hydrogen-bond acidic. Propylene carbonate–organic solvent systems offer a complementary approach to other totally organic biphasic partition systems for sample preparation and descriptor measurements of compounds virtually insoluble or unstable in water.