Use of self-training artificial neural networks in modeling of gas chromatographic relative retention times of a variety of organic compounds

A quantitative structure–activity relationship study based on multiple linear regression (MLR), artificial neural network (ANN), and self-training artificial neural network (STANN) techniques was carried out for the prediction of gas chromatographic relative retention times of 13 different classes of organic compounds. The five descriptors appearing in the selected MLR model are molecular density, Winer number, boiling point, polarizability and square of polarizability. A 5-6-1 ANN and a 5-4-1 STANN were generated using the five descriptors appearing in the MLR model as inputs. Comparison of the standard errors and correlation coefficients shows the superiority of ANN and STANN over the MLR model. This is due to the fact that the retention behaviors of molecules show non-linear characteristics. Inspection of the results of STANN and ANN shows there are few differences between these methods. However, optimization of STANN is much faster and the number of adjustable parameters for this technique is much less compared with those of the conventional ANN.