Beilstein

From WolfWikis

The Beilstein and Gmelin databases are used to find chemical properties, or "facts." The Beilstein database contains organic substances, Gmelin is used for inorganic chemistry. Both are best accessed through MDL Crossfire Commander Software version 7.1.

Download the software from the client distribution page.

Vocabulary

Numerous terms are associated with these databases.

• Beilstein - an electronic database for organic chemistry, data from Beilstein's Handbuch der organischen chemie.
• Gmelin - an electronic database for inorganic chemistry, data from Gmelin's Handbuch der anorganischen chemie.
• CrossFire - the retrieval system, originally known as the electronic version of the Beilstein and Gmelin handbooks.
• Commander - the software used to access the Beilstein and Gmelin databases.
• MDL - Molecular Design Limited, the company that produces the Commander software, owned by Elsevier since 1997.

Usage: "We access the Beilstein and Gmelin databases through the Elsevier MDL CrossFire Commander."

In practice, the whole package is often referred to as simply "Beilstein" no matter what the context or which database is being used.

Purpose of the database

The Beilstein (organic chemistry) and Gmelin (inorganic chemistry) databases are major compendiums of chemical "facts," i.e., chemical property data.

Getting Started

• From the Libraries' home, search for 'Beilstein' or click Databases under the red Search the Collection area, locate Beilstein/Gmelin in the alphabetical index
• OR go directly to: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/searchcollection/databases/beilstein.html
• Follow the directions to download and install the software.

Please note: access to the database is restricted to NC State University IP addresses (i.e., it must be used on campus).

Beilstein/Gmelin is also installed on selected computers in the NCSU Libraries. Ask at the reference desk for assistance.

The Basics

• Select the appropriate database for your search (click "Select Database" to change)
  • Beilstein: organic chemistry
  • Gmelin: inorganic chemistry
  • You can select both simultaneously, but it will limit the fields you can search. Avoid choosing this option unless you really need to have both organic and inorganic data at hand.

• To find fields, use the search box. Or browse through the field hierarchy.
  • Search Fields allow you to pick any fields you want to search by.
  • Predefined Search Forms are a shortcut to common fields. You don't have to fill out the whole form, just the fields you want to search by.

Tip: Build searches for substances by adding multiple fields to the query.

Finding substances

• Find Chemical Name (or the field corresponding to other identification information you know, such as CAS Registry Number or Molecular Formula) in the search field hierarchy.
• Double click to add a field to the search fields table
• Now enter search information in field content within the search fields table (eg, caffeine, nicotine, 58-08-2). Double click the box to begin typing, or click the down-arrow under List for all available entries.

• Optionally add more fields – especially if searching for substances that have more than one specifically desired property or available data

Navigating

The Field Availability list is essentially just a table of contents for all the information below it. Click on the code (e.g., "RX" for reactions) to jump to that section.

• Use the tabs along the top of the screen to jump between the Query and Results
• From within the results, use the View, Grid, Details, and Show buttons to change display
• While viewing search results, double click a structure to see details and all available data.
• While viewing data, use the Field Availability List (like a table of contents--pictured at right) to navigate the data.
• Click the Code (e.g., if you want reactions, click the RX) to jump to that portion of the data.

Structure searching

1. To draw and edit new structures from the Query screen

• • Double click the structure search window
  • Draw and edit structure in the Structure Editor window
  • Click the CrossFire button (red arrows) to send back to query builder

--OR--
2. To edit a known structure from the Results screen, after a search

• • Click structure to select it
  • Click Copy ( )
  • Double-click the structure in the search window to send to editor
  • After editing the structure how you want, click the CrossFire button (red arrows) to send back to query builder

To search by structure (after completing either of the above procedures)

• Check and uncheck appropriate options for your search in the upper right boxes
  • The more Free Sites and Allow boxes checked, the more variation you'll permit in the results. For more precise results, don't check the boxes.
• You can optionally add any other text or field search information to the search

More information on structure searching in Crossfire Commander here.

Saving search results

• Save facts: When viewing results data, click the Copy this Fact button (looks like two sheets of paper). Select a save option. Many researchers use the Copy Fact to Word option for saving or printing.
• Save query: From the Query screen, click Save Query.
• Save structures (within Structure Editor)

Linking to text of articles

Click the Full Text button in a reference to link to a copy via the library. This will work if the Libraries subscribe to the journal or the article is available without subscription (such as for patents).

If full text linking fails, note the citation and use the locating references in the library page or Ask A Librarian to help find the source.