Molecules in Silico: The Generation of Structural Formulae and Its Applications

Abstract

In information processing, in combinatorial chemistry, in structure elucidation, and in several other fields of chemistry, the computer-aided generation of all structures (constitutional formulae) within a defined structure space has become increasingly important. In this brief review the mathematical foundations of the classical molecular model and thus of the generation process are outlined, and the current state of structure generation as applied in software developed by the Bayreuth group is discussed.