About Beilstein

Beilstein (1771+) is a database of organic compound properties, structures, reactions, and references to the journal literature of organic chemistry. Has flexible and powerful searching by substance, property and/or reaction. Substance searching includes exact structure, substructure, CAS number, molecular formula, name, and many more choices.

• How To Access Beilstein
• Beilstein In Detail
• Tips and Techniques For Searching CrossFire Commander
• Return to the Chemistry Guide

	How To Access Beilstein

People currently affiliated with IUPUI or Indiana University may use Beilstein on computers at IUPUI University Library via Crossfire Commander (client software).

On University Library computers, look for "MDL Crossfire Commander" in the Start menu, under All Programs". CrossFire Commander also may be used off campus via IUPUI VPN software. In order to use Beilstein via CrossFire Commander on lab, office or home computers, you must install client software. MAC users running OS 9, can download the older version 6 client software.

• Beilstein Crossfire Commander software for PC or Mac installation
• For help installing the software contact Amanda Lavender

For basic help using Crossfire Commander, contact IUPUI Chemistry liaison Eric Snajdr (278-2778). For advanced help using Crossfire Commander, contact IUB Chemistry Librarian Roger Beckman (812-855-9792)
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	Beilstein In Detail

Learning how to search the Beilstein database is challenging but worthwhile because the database provides excellent coverage of property information for organic compounds. User friendly query forms, once located, can make fact searching much easlier. Substructure and reaction searching is flexible and comprehensive. When searching reactions, you can specify the product and/or one or more reactants. Because of the indexing policy, reaction searching is more comprehensive than SciFinder Scholar for journal articles. You can search by name fragments. CAS numbers may be searched, however, they were no longer added after ~1995. New compounds may be named using the Autonom software that comes with Beilstein CrossFire and ISIS Draw. Beilstein is especially useful for finding articles about biological activity of substances.

Keep in mind the Beilstein only covers journal articles. Subject searching is very limited. You can not limit to a "review" article.
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	Tips and Techniques For Searching CrossFire Commander

1. Work through one of these tutorials:
   • Elsevier MDL Learning Center PDF and web tutorials from Elsevier MDL. First time users much register. Disable popups.
   • Tutorial from the University of Wisconsin.
   • Interactive Videos from Elsevier MDL
2. Resources
   • Quick User Guide Crossfire Commander V.7
   • Fact Searching v.6 (2 Mb PDF) from University of Chicago
   • Structure Searching v.6 (2.2 Mb PDF) from University of Chicago
   • Training Materials from MIMAS.
   • Instructional Materials from Clearinghouse for Chemical Information Instructional Materials
   • Crossfire Beilstein Datastructure from Elsevier MDL
   • Beilstein Dictionary (German -> Engish) From Stanford

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Maintained by Eric Snajdr, Chemistry Subject Librarian. Return to Chemistry Guide