Remarks on the molecular mechanical calculations of functionalized hydrocarbons

Molecular mechanical calculations for hetero-substituted hydrocarbons present certain difficulties that are not encountered in dealing with hydrocarbons. Ways are proposed to overcome such difficulties, sometimes by two-step or iterative computation. The following topics are considered: fitting the force field by using data from studies in solution; ways to estimate atomic charges or, alternatively, bond moments; ways to account for field effects upon atomic charges and bond moments.