[Messi]

I think I might have synthesized a new compound.

How can I search the web to determine if I have actually synthesized a new compound!?

[Altered State]

As far as I know, you can check it out on databases like http://www.cas.org/products/scifinder
or ISI Derwent Innovation Index (for patents).

These are not free, I have acess to them because I'm a student and my University provides that acces.

You also have free databases like ChemSpider.

Hope it helps. Regards

[Messi]

Thank you altered state.

I looked for my compound in SciFinder and Chemspider just now... and didn't find it! Does this mean I synthesized a new compound...

[discodermolide]

You probably made a new compound, but as I said in my other post "Do a literature search for the structure, perhaps with shorter alkyl chains, methyl or ethyl, and vary the N-protection. You may just find something."
At least literature which indicates how it is formed.

[Messi]

I did do that discodermolide, but didn't find anything!

Is synthesizing a new compound a "big" thing?

[discodermolide]

Yes it is a big thing and always gave me a buzz to think that I had made something no-one else had.
Well done.

[Messi]

Thank you discodermolide. I did a search on scifinder and didn't find any compounds matching mine...

You say synthesising a new compound is indeed a "big thing". Does this mean I can write a paper on it? Will my supervisor actually be happy? Will I get famous?

[discodermolide]

I don't think you will be writing a paper on it just yet.
Did you find the reaction?
I would think that your supervisor will be very happy with you, you may become famous, it depends what you are doing.

[Messi]

Yes, I found the reaction!

But I was thinking... for the compound that I had synthesized that to the best of my knowledge has not been synthesized yet... can't one just alkylate a thioamide to form my product?

Look below at my proposed mechanism:

I synthesized my dimer in a completely different way...

[discodermolide]

That mechanism seems OK, but I still think these alkylating conditions may alkylate at S rather than C.

[Messi]

That mechanism seems OK, but I still think these alkylating conditions may alkylate at S rather than C.

Good point.

I am so confused if my compound is actually a new compound or not!  Do you think you could take a look for me if you don't mind? I just don't want to look like a total fool when I mention the idea to my supervisor and he says "Are you on an another planet... of course it has been synthesized before.. it is very easy".

[discodermolide]

Sorry I don't have any access to searching services like CAS or reaccs.

[Messi]

Sorry I don't have any access to searching services like CAS or reaccs.

Ok, thanks for the aid! Much appreciated!

[discodermolide]

Here is another source for thioenols/thioketones.
http://stoltz.caltech.edu/seminars/2006_Krishnan.pdf

[ATMyller]

That molecule is called N,N'-dibenzyl-2,3-dipenthylbutanebis(thioamide) and Scifinder did not find any references about it. So there is a change that it is a new compound if the reaction goes as you hypothesized.