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Home: CHEM 223

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General Organic Chemistry Resources

CHEM 223: Organic Chemistry

Librarian: Josh Wilson

Preparation (or Synthesis) Sources

Several of the sources listed for your report contain references to synthesis articles in journals, listed in the same entry with the data values. As you the following sources, look for a bibliographic reference to a journal article of a synthesis or preparation.

  1. The Dictionary of Organic Compounds
    D. H. Hill Reference QD246 .D5

    The DOC is the first place to check for a reference to a journal article for a synthesis. In the sample entry below, the synthesis article is by G. J. Vakanas in the 1933 journal abbreviated J. Chem. Soc.

    1) Use the CAS No. index in Volume 9 to get a number for your chemical, then select the volume (1-6) that includes that number (in this example below, F-0-00450). If accessing online, just search within the Dictionary of Organic Compounds.
    2) After finding your chemical, look for journal citations ending in (synth).

    Example of Dictionary of Organic Compounds entry

    3) Now, use the library catalog to locate the journal title listed in the synthesis citation. Search by Journal Title.

    Converting Journal Abbreviations to Full Journal Titles

    If you only have an abbreviated title, one option is to type the abbreviation into the Journal List search tool. This tool is very good at resolving journal abbreviations, and will provide links to our subscription, if we have one. You can also check this page for common abbreviations. The following books are also useful:

    • C.A.S.S.I (Chemical Abstracts Service Source Index)
      D. H. Hill Reference QD1 C4001 (shelved at reference desk, ask for help)

    • Volume 1 of Dictionary of Organic Compounds lists eight nonstandard short abbreviations used for eight journals in the DOC.

    • Periodical Title Abbreviations
      D. H. Hill Reference Z6945 .A2 P47 (shelved at reference desk, ask for help)

    Visit the reference desk or Ask a Librarian for more help with abbreviations.

  2. Merck Index
    D. H. Hill Reference RS51 .M4

    The Merck Index frequently gives the reference for the original preparation or isolation of a chemical substance, but may also give references for later syntheses. In the entry for 1-fluoro-2,4 dinitrobenzene, the text reads:

    "Prepn: A.F. Holleman, J.W. Beekman, Rec. Trav. Chim. 23, 225 (1904)."

    This means that an article describing the preparation of this compound is in volume 23 on page 225 of the journal whose name is abbreviated Rec. Trav. Chim.

  3. Organic Syntheses Collective Volumes
    D. H. Hill Reference QD 262 .O72

    Another possible source for a reference to an article for a synthesis.

  4. Chemical Abstracts
    D. H. Hill Reference QD1 .C4

    SciFinder Scholar is the electronic version of Chemical Abstracts, and much easier to use. It's still challenging, but more accessible to anyone accustomed to search engine interfaces. Instructions for using the printed Chemical Abstracts are below.

    Using SciFinder: For the literaure search assignment, you don't need to learn everything there is to know about SciFinder Scholar. Essentially, you will follow these steps:

    1. SciFinder Scholar is available on library computers (PCs and SunRays) and many chemistry lab computers. Unfortunately it is not available off campus.
    2. Search for your chemical. Click on "Locate" from the start menu, then "Locate substances." Search by name or identifier. CAS numbers work best as search terms.
    3. You can see details about the results by clicking on the microscope icon. This links you to physical properties and other information.
    4. For synthesis information, use the "A-->B" button to access reaction information. You will be prompted to name the reaction role for your chemical. Choose 'Product'.
    5. The search returns journal articles listing your chemical as a product of a reaction. (Tip: click View-Reverse Order to start with the oldest articles. For the purposes of this assignment, older articles may be easier to understand.) It will take some reading to understand whether the articles in question thoroughly describe a synthesis process of interest to you, or whether it is an incidental reaction in quest of another product. Click the article citation to get details about the article--relevant articles will list your chemical by CAS number in the 'indexing' section, with a brief description of its role.
    6. Many articles will link to full text online. Click the 'paper' icon in the upper right corner to open a window that links to the NCSU Libraries subscription. For others, note the full citation including, at minimum, journal name, year, volume (and issue if available), and page (example: Synthetic Communications (2003), 33(19), 3291-3297.). Now that you have a citation in hand, you can track it down in the library.

    Contact the chemistry librarian or try the PAMS wiki for more help with SciFinder Scholar.

    The printed edition of Chemical Abstracts is composed of several indexes which lead to the abstracts section. (Note: the NCSU Libraries stopped receiving the print edition of Chemical Abstracts in 2005. The electronic version, SciFinder Scholar, is often quicker and easier. Contact the chemistry reference librarian if you would like help using SciFinder Scholar.

    A suggested search method is as follows:

    1. Determine the correct form of the chemical name to use. Use the Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Handbook. Number section volumes at D. H. Hill Ref QD6 C64, and look up the CAS Registry number. The volumes will list the correct form of the name of your chemical to use in Chemical Abstracts volumes 1971 to present.

    2. Once you have determined the correct way to look up your chemical, look in the Chemical Substance Index for years 1972 or later. Look in the Subjects Index for years before 1972.

    3. Look alphabetically under the chemical name for the term "prepn", (short for preparation), the term that Chemical Abstracts uses to indicate a compound synthesis.

    4. Look up the volume no (example, 89) and abstract number (example, 42635d). From the information given here you may proceed to look for the journal article.

    Example of Chemical Abstracts entry

    Use the following source to obtain the full journal title from the abbreviations given in Chemical Abstracts.

    • C.A.S.S.I (Chemical Abstracts Service Source Index)
      D. H. Hill Reference QD1 C4001 (located on stand near reference desk)

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