Recent advances in lipophilicity measurement by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Lipophilicity, quantified by the logarithm of the n-octanol/water partition coefficient (logP) or the distribution coefficient (logD), is a crucial parameter for modelling biological partition or distribution. As a maintream experimental method for lipophilicity measurement, reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) has attracted great interest and the attention of researchers throughout the world for its advantages including speed, reproducibility, insensitivity to impurities and degradation products, broad dynamic range, on-line detection, and reduced handling and sizes of samples. This review focuses on recent developments in lipophilicity measurement by RP-HPLC, both theoretical and experimental (mainly mobile and stationary phases).