Implementation

The core representation of R-group structures is the chemaxon.struc.RgMolecule class.

Build a Markush-structure

The core of the root molecule ( i.e. the molecule without the R-atoms) can be built in a same way as any other MoleculeGraph object. To create an R-atom, use the MolAtom.RGROUPconstant in the constructor of the MolAtom. Using the MolAtom.setRgroup(int), an ID can be set for the R-atom. Note, that R-atoms are MolAtom objects, hence they should be added to the root molecule. Create R-atoms and a root molecule

MolAtom r1 = new MolAtom(MolAtom.RGROUP);
r1.setRgroup(1);

An RgMolecule object can be constructed with an empty constructor. Specify its root molecule using the RgMolecule.setRoot(MoleculeGraph)method. Create R-group

RgMolecule rgMol = new RgMolecule();
rgMol.setRoot(root);

R-group definitions are Molecule objects. To define an R-group attachment point to one of its atoms use the MolAtom.addRgroupAttachmentPoint(int, int). With the first integer the order of the attachment point is set, the second one defines the bond type. R-group definition should be added to the corresponding R-group using the RgMolecule.addRgroup(int, Molecule). The integer parameter shows to which R-atom the definition corresponds to. Create R-group definition

Molecule rg = MolImporter.importMol("O");
rg.getAtom(0).addRgroupAttachmentPoint(1, 1);
rgMol.addRgroup(1, rg);

Full example of building a Markush-structure

/*
 *  Copyright (c) 1998-2022 Chemaxon. All Rights Reserved.
 */
package chemaxon.examples.strucrep;

import java.io.IOException;

import chemaxon.calculations.clean.Cleaner;
import chemaxon.formats.MolExporter;
import chemaxon.formats.MolImporter;
import chemaxon.struc.MolAtom;
import chemaxon.struc.MolBond;
import chemaxon.struc.Molecule;
import chemaxon.struc.RgMolecule;

/**
 * Example class. Creates a basic RgMolecule.
 * 
 * @author Janos Kendi
 * 
 */
public class BuildRgMolecule {

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {

        // Create the root of the RgMolecule
        Molecule root = MolImporter.importMol("C1CCCCC1");

        // Create Rgroups
        MolAtom r1 = new MolAtom(MolAtom.RGROUP);
        r1.setRgroup(1);
        root.add(r1);
        root.add(new MolBond(r1, root.getAtom(0)));

        MolAtom r2 = new MolAtom(MolAtom.RGROUP);
        r2.setRgroup(2);
        root.add(r2);
        root.add(new MolBond(r2, root.getAtom(5)));

        // Create the RgMolecule
        RgMolecule rgMol = new RgMolecule();
        rgMol.setRoot(root);

        // Add Rgroup definitions
        Molecule rg = MolImporter.importMol("O");
        rg.getAtom(0).addRgroupAttachmentPoint(1, 1);
        rgMol.addRgroup(1, rg);

        rg = MolImporter.importMol("N");
        rg.getAtom(0).addRgroupAttachmentPoint(1, 2);
        rgMol.addRgroup(1, rg);

        rg = MolImporter.importMol("CC");
        rg.getAtom(0).addRgroupAttachmentPoint(1, 1);
        rgMol.addRgroup(2, rg);

        Cleaner.clean(rgMol, 2, null);

        System.out.println(MolExporter.exportToFormat(rgMol, "mrv:P"));
    }

}

Accessing the elements of a Markush-structure

The root structure can be accessed by calling RgMolecule.getRoot()method, the R-group members can be retrieved by calling RgMolecule.getRgroupMember(int, int). Access the root molecule and the R-group definition

//get the root structure and enumerate the atoms, find R-Atoms.
Molecule root = rgmol.getRoot();
for (int i = root.getAtomCount() - 1; i >= 0; --i){
    MolAtom atom = root.getAtom(i);
    if (atom.getAtno() == MolAtom.RGROUP){
       ....
    }
}

//enumerate the R-group definitions and its fragments
int nr = rgmol.getRgroupCount();
for(int i = 0; i < nr; ++i) {
    int nrm = rgmol.getRgroupMemberCount(i);
    for(int j = 0; j < nrm; ++j) {
        // .... do something with rgmol.getRgroupMember(i, j) 
    }
}