Chemistry Databases

The Library has a number of databases available for searching the scientific literature, including several devoted to the chemical sciences. Most of the databases described here are restricted to use by University of Chicago faculty, staff and currently enrolled students. Searches are available on a cost-recovery basis for access to databases not licensed by the University of Chicago Library. For more information, please contact the Chemistry Librarian or Crerar Search Service.

For a complete list of electronic resources for ALL subject areas, use the Database Finder.

Database name	Coverage and Scope	Notes
SciFinder Scholar	Provides access to Chemical Abstracts references (1907-present, includes some pre-1900 content), including searches by CAS Registry No., author, topic, molecular formula, and structure. Also includes CASReact reaction database and Registry File compound information. Links to full-text of many articles and patents. For detailed help on searching: http://www.cas.org/SCIFINDER/SCHOLAR/resources.html Brief searching guides: Preparations (word document) Reactions (word document)	Requires either client software download to desktop computer, and network address within .uchicago.edu domain (no proxy server access at this time) and/or one time registration to use web version. Also available on public workstations in the John Crerar Library. Directions for downloading the import filter for EndNote for SciFinder Scholar (as well as many other databases) are available. Visit the CAS web site for filters for ProCite and Reference Manager. A tutorial for learning SciFinder Scholar features is available.
Beilstein/Gmelin	Access to Beilstein Handbook of Organic Chemistry compound data and reactions and to data and references from the Gmelin Handbook of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry is provided through DiscoveryGate (web based) or CrossFire Commander (client software) interfaces. Especially good for coverage prior to 1967 (including 18th and 19th century references). Brief searching guide: Reactions (word document)	CrossFire Commander requires client software installation on desktop computers, and network address within .uchicago.edu domain (no proxy server access at this time). DiscoveryGate on PC requires a browser plugin (not required for Mac) and Java enabled on both PC and Mac computers. Click for instructions for downloading CrossFire client or configuring DiscoveryGate
ISI Chemistry Server Select Current Chemical Reactions (reactions) or Index Chemicus (compounds and properties) to search.	Provides access to reaction (45,000 novel and improved reactions) and compound (650,000 new organic compounds) information. Equivalent to the print Current Chemical Reactions and Index Chemicus. Covers 1985-current for reactions and 1994-current for compounds. Supplemented by a file of "classical" reactions from mid-1800's to late 1990's. Text and structure searchable. Links to Web of Science references, abstracts and citation information.	Web based; structure searching requires a plugin. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server.
SPRESI	SPRESI structural database currently contains about 4.5 million organic and organometallic compounds and data, about 3.5 million reactions and journal article references of the period 1975-1998. An updated interface with improved search features was introduced in December 2002.	Web based, no special client software needed. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server.
Web of Science	Provides access to the ISI citation databases, including Science Citation Index Expanded. Coverage is from 1945 to current. Links to some full-text of journals is also available. Documentation for citation searching in this database is available.	Web based, no special software needed. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server. Direct Export of references is available for EndNote; for RefWorks, save as text file (Tagged Fields format) and use File/Import.
SpecInfo	Web version with Java based search interface for more than 600,000 NMR spectra, including 13C, 1H, and other nuclei. Structure, name, formula searchable; also possible to do spectra prediction and peak assignments. Import formats of Molfile, JCAMP-DX and ASCII peak tables compatible for experimental data comparison. (Note: this product takes 3-5 minutes to initialize, so be sure to leave the browser open long enough to get to the search screen).	Requires Browser configuration software download to desktop computer and login/password (included on download instruction page).
ACS Directory of Graduate Research (DGRWeb)	Web version of the print directory. Select to search either by Faculty or Institution. DGRweb also includes access to the previous editions back to 1999. Searchable by name, institution, area of research, department and other criteria	Web based, no special software needed. Freely accessible to all.
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics	Web searchable version of the same information as in the print version of this classic handbook. Click on book cover graphic or Table of Contents button to begin; do not use Login button - this is for individual password accounts.	Web based, no special software needed. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server.
Combined Chemical Dictionaries	Web searchable access to same information as in the classic print reference volumes: Dictionary of Natural Products, Dictionary of Inorganic and Organometallic Compounds, Dictionary of Organic Compounds, Dictionary of Pharmacological Substances, and Dictionary of Analytical Reagents.	Web based, plugin (download instructions) required for structure based queries. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server.
Knovel interactive e-books	Searchable database composed of recent science and engineering textbooks, handbooks, reference resources, etc. Books contain interactive tables, figures, and equations. Excellent resource when searching for a chemical or physical property. Subject areas covered include safety/toxicology, physical/analytical/organic chemistry, chemical engineering, food science, biochemistry, biotechnology, nanotechnology and more.	Click on My Subscription button to limit searches to U Chicago licensed content.
Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis (e-EROS)	Online version of the printed handbook. Enhanced capabilities include structure query form, limits by reaction name, reagent name, product yield, and more.	Plugin and ISIS Draw installation required for structure queries. Click on "getting started" link on the main search page. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server.
Science of Synthesis	Science of Synthesis is the new edition of the venerable reference series, Houben-Weyl Methods of Molecular Transformations/Die Methoden der organischen chemie. A systematic and critically evaluated review of synthetic methods in organic and organometallic chemistry, this resource provides practical solutions and offers a route through the mass of information available in the primary literature. Searchable by text, reaction conditions and/or chemical substructure. Also includes searchable/browseable index to the original print volumes of Houben-Weyl.	Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server.
ACS Reagent Chemicals	Online version of the printed work.	Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server.
Organic Syntheses	Web searchable version of classic print volumes (77 annual volumes, cumulated into 9 collective volumes. Search by word, phrase, substructure, reaction, author name, volume and page number, CAS Registry Number, and more.	Web based, requires ChemDraw Plugin (see the Organic Syntheses web site for download information). Currently freely available to all, no need to use special remote access authentication.
Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (Kirk-Othmer, 4th edition)	This is the online version of the entire 4th edition of the 25 volume Kirk-Othmer encyclopedia. Articles in a broad array of chemical technology topics are presented. This is an excellent source in which to locate background information, basic chemical and physical data, industrial processes, etc.	Web based, no special software needed. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server.
Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry	This is the online version of the 5th revised edition of the 37 volume Ullmann's encyclopedia. Articles in all areas of industrial chemistry are included, entire work is now in English (earlier editions were produced in German). Excellent tables and illustrations of equipment, processes, and more.	Web based, no special software needed. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server.
Current Contents Direct	Lists tables of contents for over 6500 journals. Includes bibliographic data for each article, and abstracts for about 85% of the articles. Search by journal title, article title, authors, keywords, and corporate source. You may also set up personal profiles to discover when new articles of interest are published in specific journals in your subject area.	Web based, no special software needed. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server. Filter and connection file information is available from the Library's EndNote page for this database.
Journal Citation Reports	This resource provides data to help evaluate and compare scholarly journals. Impact factors, citation half-life, total citations, immediacy index, and other data are reported from 1997 on.	Web based, no special software needed. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server.
All Science Databases	The library subscribes to many other databases in physics, astronomy, mathematics, statistics, computer science, geology, biology, medicine, technology, chemistry, and history of science. Databases include Medline, INSPEC, GeoRef, MathSciNet, and more. Descriptions of databases and coverage are provided, as well as some links to documentation and user guides.	Some databases may have special requirements, or be limited to particular libraries. Check the information provided in the list for more information. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server. Filter and connection file information is available from the Library's EndNote page for many science databases.
All Subjects Databases	A to Z ordered list of all databases licensed for use by the University of Chicago Library. Includes business, social sciences, humanities, sciences, medicine, government information, technology and law. For guidance in choosing a database, try the library subject pages.	Some databases may have special requirements, or be limited to workstations in particular libraries. Check the information provided in the list for more information. Off campus access via the NSIT proxy server. Filter and connection file information is available from the Library's EndNote page for many databases provided by the library.