A new method for the estimation of properties of pure organic compounds is
presented. Estimation is performed at three levels. The primary level uses
contributions from simple groups that allow describing a wide variety of or
ganic compounds, while the higher levels involve polyfunctional and structu
ral groups that provide more information about molecular fragments whose de
scription through first-order groups is not possible. The presented method
allows estimations of the following properties: normal boiling point, criti
cal temperature, critical pressure, critical volume, standard enthalpy of f
ormation, standard enthalpy of vaporization, standard Gibbs energy, normal
melting point and standard enthalpy of fusion. The group-contribution table
s have been developed from regression using a data set of more than 2000 co
mpounds ranging from C = 3-60, including large and complex polycyclic compo
unds. Compared to the currently used group-contribution methods, the new me
thod makes significant improvements both in accuracy and applicability. (C)
2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.