Quantitative structure-retention relationship of selected imidazoline derivatives on α1-acid glycoprotein column

• QSRR models for prediction of chromatographic retention on AGP column.
• Validated QSRR models developed by PLS and stepwise MLR statistical methods.
• LSER models for imidazoline derivatives and solvent/AGP interactions.
• Predictable models for further design of imidazoline derivatives.

The retention behaviour of 22 selected imidazoline drugs and derivatives was investigated on α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) column using Sørensen phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) and 2-propanol as organic modifier. Quantitative Structure-Retention Relationships (QSRR) models were built using extrapolated logkw values as well as isocratic retention factors (logk5, logk8, logk10, logk12, logk15 obtained for 5%, 8%, 10%, 12%, and 15%, of 2-propanol in mobile phase, respectively) as dependant variables and calculated physicochemical parameters as independant variables. The established QSRR models were built by stepwise multiple linear regression (MLR) and partial least squares regression (PLS). The performance of the stepwise and PLS models was tested by cross-validation and the external test set prediction. The validated QSRR models were compared and the optimal PLS-QSRR model for logkw and each isocratic retention factors (PLS-QSRR(logk5), PLS-QSRR(logk8), PLS-QSRR(logk10), MLR-QSRR(logk12), MLR-QSRR(logk15)) were selected. The QSRR results were further confirmed by Linear Solvation Energy Relationships (LSER). LSER analysis indicated on hydrogen bond basicity, McGowan volume and excess molar refraction as the most significant parameters for all AGP chromatographic retention factors and logkw values of 22 selected imidazoline drugs and derivatives.