Electronic-topological investigations of the relationship between chemical structure and ambergris odor

Rules for the occurence of the ambergris odor are given and discussed in terms of the electronic-topological approach developed previously. it is shown that the molecular fragments responsible for this odor possess fixed electronic and geometric characteristics associated with a distinct arrangement and the steric accessibility of an oxygen atom and a group of carbon atoms. A series of 163 compounds including 82 active and 81 inactive compounds was studied.