The organic chemistry of drug design and drug action 2nd edition richard b silverman journal of chemical education this is essentially a textbook for medicinal chemistry the material is presented such that a background in pharmacology and or biochemistry is not required. A medicinal chemist tinkers the drug design parameters to augment the potency selectivity and duration of the drugs action and to reduce the toxicity of the drug the concept of quantitative drug design is based on the fact that the biological properties of a compound are a function of its physicochemical parameters. Standard medicinal chemistry courses and texts are organized by classes of drugs with an emphasis on descriptions of their biological and pharmacological effects this book represents a new approach based on physical organic chemical principles and reaction mechanisms that allow the reader to extrapolate to many related classes of drug molecules. The organic chemistry of drug design and drug action third edition represents a unique approach to medicinal chemistry based on physical organic chemical principles and reaction mechanisms that rationalize drug action which allows reader to extrapolate those core principles and mechanisms to many related classes of drug molecules. Editorial review the organic chemistry of drug design and drug action is a comprehensive monograph that is suitable for both advanced students and phds alike who have not yet become acquainted with the area but who wish to prepare themselves for a career in drug research