A measure of the capability of a solute for hydrophobic lipophilic interaction based on the partition coefficient P for distribution of the solute between octan-1-ol and water. The most general way of applying P in correlation analysis, QSAR, etc. is as log P, but the behaviour of substituted benzene derivatives may be quantified by a substituent constant scale, π, which is defined in a way analogous to the Hammett σ scale. There are various scales, depending on the substrate series used as reference.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1119 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)