CHEM - Organic Synthesis Information Resources - Searching the Literature



The "Big Three" Online


SciFinder Scholar (1907- )
Beilstein/Gmelin (1771- )
SPRESIweb (1974-2006) [choose "IP Login"]

Benefits and Drawbacks

  • Can search by structure
  • Specific reactions (reactants or products)
  • Often links you to the full-text
  • Often cannot be very vague
  • Cannot really search by name or category of reaction/transformation

 

Other Online Resources


Methods in Organic Synthesis ( 2000- )
Graphical abstracts of important current developments and new synthetic advances, including reaction schemes. Entries are indexed by Reaction, Reactant and Reagent.

Natural Product Updates (2000- )
Alerting natural product scientists to the latest developments. The abstracts include structure diagrams, trivial and taxonomic names, and physical and biological properties.

Other Important PRINT Resources


Annual Reports in Organic Synthesis
(CHEM Ref. 547.208 An78 [2000-2004]; CHEM 547.208 An78 [1980-1987, 1989-1999]; HIKS Repository 547.208 An78 [1970-1979])

Annual reviews of the literature. Sections are organized by reaction type, protecting groups, and reviews related to techniques, natural products, fullerene chemistry, and other selected topical areas.

  • Lags in publication. 2005 was just recently published.
  • Mainly graphics of the reaction and article information.
  • No subject index, must use the table of contents. Indexed by first author only.

 

Compendium of Organic Synthetic Methods
(CHEM Ref. 547.2 H246c [vol. 1-10])

Annual reviews of the literature. Sections are organized by reaction type and subtype. A convenient graph is found at the beginning of each volume to track down general sections.

  • Lags in publication. Volume 10 (2002) covers literature from 1996-98.
  • Mainly just graphics of the reaction and article information.
  • No subject index, must use the table of contents. Author index also available.

 

Theilheimer's Synthetic Methods of Organic Chemistry
(CHEM Ref. 547 T34sE v.3[1949]-v.72[2008])

Semiannual reviews of the literature. Sections are organized using a unique system indicating what bonds are made and broken along with the type of reaction. Also includes a section on review articles.

  • Provides more detailed reaction information.
  • Does not lags as much in publication. 2007-8 was recently published.
  • Focuses on novel reactions or improvements made to existing reactions.
  • Has subject index but no author index.
  • Includes a small "Guide for Users."