Classification of the cytological activity of phenols and aromatic organophosphates.

Antimitotic effects have been reported for several members of the class of compounds which may be described as the simple substituted phenols (Muhling et al., 1960, Hindmarsh 1951, Levan and Tjio 1948, Loveless and Revell 1949, Clowes 1951). Muhling et al. (1960) showed that complex derivatives such as the phenoxyalkyl acids exhibit an effect on mitosis similar to that of the phenols, and suggested that this pattern might be characteristic of the majority of compounds containing a "phenolic" ring. This investigation was therefore undertaken to determine 1) whether a generalized pattern of effect was common to this family of compounds, 2) whether such effects are found with more complex derivatives of phenols (specifically, the aromatic organic phosphorus compounds), and 3) whether structure activity relationships exist.