The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action

This book provides a new approach to the teaching and understanding of medicinal chemistry. It is a survey of basic principles of drug design and drug action in which the concepts are presented from a physical organic chemistry perspective so that the design, development, and mechanisms of action and metabolism of drugs can be rationally understood. The reader is then able to apply these principles to any specific classes of drugs of interest and to understand how these drugs might act at a molecular level.

KEY FEATURES
• Provides an organic and synthetic chemist's perspective of how drugs are designed and how they function
• Teaches organic chemists and biochemists the fundamentals of drug design and drug action using drugs as examples
• No prior knowledge of biochemistry, pharmacology, or physiology is assumed
• Extensive use of references to the primary and secondary literature for more in depth reading about all concepts
• Extensive use of structures, schemes, and figures to illustrate points
• Problem sets and answers are included for each topic
• Informal but clear writing style so practicing chemists and undergraduates can easily understand the concepts presented

Richard B. Silverman is professor has published over 200 articles in the areas of synthesis, bioorganic chemistry, and medicinal chemistry, has been awarded 21 patents, and has invented a drug that is under consideration for commercialization.