Information on the synthesis of a compound

Chemical Dictionaries and other Reference Sources

These print sources can be very helpful. Remember that these sources do not contain every compound that exists.

• Dictionary of Organic Compounds: Entries will often include synthesis citations. Use the CAS-RN index to see if your compound is in the Dictionary.
• Dictionary of Inorganic Compounds: Entries will often include synthesis citations. Use the CAS-RN index to see if your compound is in the Dictionary.
• Merck Index: Entries will often include synthesis citations indicated by the abbreviation prep. Use the CAS-RN index to see if your compound is in the Dictionary.
• Handbook of Data on Organic Compounds
• Inorganic syntheses
• Compendium of Organic Synthetic Methods
• Chemical Formulary
• Beilstein Handbuch - A trickier source to use, as most of it is in German. We only have up to the 4th Supplementary Series. If you can find your compound and understand the information, this is a very valuable and reliable source.
• Profiles of drug substances, excipients, and related methodology: comprehensive summaries of physical and chemical data, analytical methods, routes of compound preparation, degradation pathways, uses and applications, etc. of drugs.

Databases

• SciFinder Scholar
  Locate your chemical compound, and then "Get References" for that compound. Specify that you want references dealing with preparation.
• Organic Syntheses
  This free resource provides detailed directions for the synthesis of organic compounds. Database Mode allows users to simultaneously search all volumes of Organic Syntheses by keywords or by inputting structures and substructures.
• Methods in Organic Synthesis
  Provides citations to reaction methods with a focus on current developments for the synthetic organic chemist.
• Chemsynthesis: Chemical Database
  This free resource contains substances with their synthesis references and physical properties such as melting point, boiling point and density.
• Catalysts & Catalyzed Reactions
  Abstracts, with reactions and citations, from over 80 journals. Coverage includes all areas of catalysis research, including homogeneous, heterogeneous and biocatalysis with emphasis on current growth areas such as chiral catalysts, polymerisation catalysts, enzymatic catalysts and clean catalytic methods.
• ChemSpider SyntheticPages
  This free resource contains organic, organometallic and inorganic chemical synthesis, reactions and procedures deposited by synthetic chemists.

named reactions

Print Sources

• Merck Index: has a section on Organic Name Reactions
• Comprehensive organic name reactions and reagents
• Named Organic Reactions
• Name Reactions: a Collection of Detailed Reaction Mechanisms
• Name Reactions and Reagents in Organic Synthesis
• Name reactions for functional group transformations
• Name Reactions in Heterocyclic Chemistry
• Organic Reactions
• Strategic applications of named reactions in organic synthesis : background and detailed mechanisms

Databases

• Dictionary of Chemistry from Oxford Reference Online Premium.
• Classic Organic Reactions
• Organometallic HyperTextBook

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

• CHEMLAB: Entries from Journal of Chemical Education that are student experiments, descriptions of laboratory work, or articles related to student laboratory experiments can be searched separately in this section.
• Organic Syntheses: This free resource provides detailed directions for the synthesis of organic compounds. Database Mode allows users to simultaneously search all volumes of Organic Syntheses by keywords or by inputting structures and substructures.
• Methods in Organic Synthesis: Provides citations to reaction methods with a focus on current developments for the synthetic organic chemist.

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