The
structure–activity relationship (
SAR) is the relationship between the
chemical or 3D structure of a molecule and its
biological activity. The analysis of SAR enables the determination of the chemical groups responsible for evoking a target biological effect in the organism. This allows modification of the effect or
the potency of a
bioactive compound (typically a drug) by changing its
chemical structure.
Medicinal chemists use the techniques of
chemical synthesis to insert new chemical groups into the biomedical compound and test the modifications for their biological effects.