Conformational Parameters of the Sandalwood‐Odor Activity: Conformational calculations on sandalwood odor

The conformational parameters responsible for sandalwood odor were investigated by the “active‐analog approach”. The pharmacophoric (osmophoric) pattern of sandalwood‐odor molecules can be outlined as three points: the OH group (point PI), a lipophilic group (point P2) 2.9–3.0 Å distant from the OH group, and a bulky rigid group (point P3), represented as a dummy atom in the middle of the alicyclic system (norbornane bicycle or cyclopentene ring) or a quaternary C‐atom. This concept was tested on a series of representative sandalwood‐odor compounds and on some structurally similar, but odorless substances.