Structural analog

Structural analog or structural analogue is a compound having a structure similar to that of another one, but differing from it in respect to a certain component. It can result from replacement of one atom with another atom or group of atoms. The concept of structural analogs is important in chemistry and biochemistry.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The term "analog" is derived from the Greek word "ανάλογος" (analogos), which means "proportional". In the context of biochemistry, an analog is a compound that resembles another in structure but not necessarily in function.

Types of Structural Analogs[edit | edit source]

Structural analogs are classified into two types:

Complete analogs: These are compounds that have the same atoms and the same bond connectivity, but different arrangement of atoms in space.
Partial analogs: These are compounds that have the same atoms, but different bond connectivity.

Applications[edit | edit source]

Structural analogs are widely used in medicinal chemistry to design new drugs. By modifying the structure of a known drug, it is possible to create a new compound with improved properties. This approach is known as structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.

Examples[edit | edit source]

Some examples of structural analogs include:

Methamphetamine and Amphetamine: Methamphetamine is a structural analog of amphetamine. The only difference between the two is the presence of a methyl group in methamphetamine.
Thalidomide and Pomalidomide: Pomalidomide is a structural analog of thalidomide. It has an additional amino group compared to thalidomide.

References[edit | edit source]

Structural analog Resources
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