This is a new approach to the teaching of medicinal chemistry. The knowledge of the physical organic chemical basis of drug design and drug action allows the reader to extrapolate to the many related classes of drugs described in standard medicinal chemistry texts. Students gain a solid foundation to base future research endeavors upon: drugs not yet developed are thus covered! * Emphasizes the use of the principles of physical organic chemistry as a basis for drug design * Discusses organic reaction mechanisms of clinically important drugs with mechanistic schemes * Uses figures and literature references extensively throughout * This text is not merely a "compilation of drugs and uses," but features selected drugs as examples of the organic chemical basis for any and all drug design applications.