Trends in structure–toxicity relationships for carbonyl-containing α,β-unsaturated compounds

Using toxicity data for 30 aliphatic polarized α,β-unsaturated derivatives of esters, aldehydes, and ketones, a series of six structure–toxicity relationships were evaluated. The structure feature of all assessed compounds, an acetylenic or olefinic moiety conjugated to a carbonyl group, is inherently electrophilic and conveys the capacity to exhibit enhanced toxicity. However, the toxic potency of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is dependent on the specific molecular structure with several trends being observed. Specific observations include: (1) between homologues, the acetylenic-substituted derivative was more toxic than the corresponding olefinic-substituted one, respectively; (2) between olefinic-homologues, terminal vinyl-substituted derivative was more toxic than the internal vinylene-substituted one; (3) within α,β-unsaturated ketones, methyl substitution on the vinyl carbon atoms reduces toxicity with methyl-substitution on the carbon atom farthest from the carbonyl group exhibiting the greater inhibition; (4) between α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with the carbon–carbon double bond on the end of the molecule (vinyl ketones) and those with carbon–oxygen double bonds on the end of the molecule (aldehydes), the ketones are more toxic than the aldehydes; (5) between homologues of α,β-unsaturated esters, those with additional unsaturated moieties (allyl, propargyl, or vinyl groups) were more toxic than homologues having relevant unsaturated moieties (propyl or ethyl groups); (6) between α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with different shaped alkyl-groups (i.e. different degrees of branching), homologues with straight-chain hydrocarbon moieties were more toxic than those with branched groups.