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Properties of Compounds Used as Chemical Signals

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Chemical Signals in Vertebrates

Abstract

The most important property of a compound used as a chemical signal is an appropriate volatility. This limits its upper molecular weight to ~ 300 and the effective lower molecular weight appears to be ~ 50 (Wilson, 1963; Wilson et al., 1969). Many different functional groups have been observed in pheromones and defensive materials from nonpolar molecules such as alkanes and alkenes to very polar compounds which may be acidic (acids, phenols) or basic (amines) (Weatherston, 1967; Law and Regnier, 1971).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Howard University, Washington, D.C., 20059, USA

    James W. Wheeler

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  1. James W. Wheeler
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Dietland Müller-Schwarze

  2. Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Maxwell M. Mozell

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© 1977 Plenum Press, New York

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Wheeler, J.W. (1977). Properties of Compounds Used as Chemical Signals. In: Müller-Schwarze, D., Mozell, M.M. (eds) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2364-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2364-8_5

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