[ArchStanton]

I am really getting sick of flicking through catalogues looking for chemicals and visiting websites that don't stock my desired reagent anymore. Anyone got any tips to save time? Any software worth investing in for an academic institution?

Thanks for your help.

Arch

[Dan]

Any software worth investing in for an academic institution?

SciFinder will do what you need (among other things). It is very expensive, but well worth investing in for an academic institution.

[gfunk]

When I want to see what is commercially available, I use Sigma-Aldrich's substructure search.  Draw in your molecule and it'll come up with whatever is closest to it.  Very handy.

http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/search/substructure/SubstructureSearchPage

[ArchStanton]

Thanks for your replies. I have used both scifinder and aldrich. Both are good sites, but i would like to search multiple catalogues and get some accurate availability information. I think scifinder falls down on the last point. Any more suggestions?

[sjb]

Well, there's things like ACD (or a sucessor), for ISIS-Base, see http://www.csc.fi/english/research/software/isisbase or similar.

Trouble is, I suppose, no one can predict if a given exotic chemical suddenly becomes a needed reactant in a large scheme in industry, so availability info is perhaps sketchy at best. I recall a few years ago my group needed kilos of an intermediate that seemed perfectly purchasable at Aldrich (talking I think £1000 for a kilo or similar), but on trying to get hold of it, it seemed to take ages and stock was not forthcoming. Ended up making the reagent ourselves, for about twice the price once time and SMs etc were taken into account

S

[kd.gns]

try www.emolecules.com, it has a structure search that lets you draw your structure to search for products.

[ArchStanton]

Thanks for all you replies.

I have a confession.

Currently I am studying for a masters in chemistry and management and I am collecting information for my thesis. Please could you fill out the linked survey!! I would like 250 responses by the end of August if possible.

To say thankyou i am going to give away £30 or equivalent in I-tunes / ticket master vouchers to 2/3 random people who respond.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=k7GRM5tnVhwmoMuVDi7NmQ_3d_3d

Please forward this to others in the chemical industry.

Many thanks for your help

Arch