Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Introduction -- 2. The Electrotopological State -- 3. Significance and Interpretations of the E-State Indices -- 4. Extended Forms of the E-State -- 5. Strategies for Use of the E-State -- 6. Database Applications: Molecular Similarity and Diversity -- 7. Structure-Activity Studies: Atom-Level Indices -- 8. Structure-Activity Studies: Mixed Indices -- 9. Structure-Activity Studies: Atom-Type Indices -- 10. Future Directions of E-State Studies -- E-Calc User's Guide. "The electrotopological state is a new approach to defining key structural features of a molecule in drug design. Combining both electronic and topological attributes, the E-State index facilitates the development of a structure - activity model, the definition of a pharmacophore, and the search through a database for similar or dissimilar compounds. The background for the method, the concept of the intrinsic state, and the E-State index as a function of the atom or group within the field of all atoms in a molecule are all described in this primer for a new structure paradigm. Software on the bundled CD-ROM allows the reader to compute and display the E-State indices for molecules, while examples in the book illustrate strategies that can be used in drug research."--Jacket.