Georgia State University

Robert TomaszewskiScience Librarian

rtomasze@gsu.edu

Beilstein – Handbook of Organic Chemistry (1st Ed. 1881)

Gmelin – Handbook of Inorganic & Organometallic Chemistry (1st Ed. 1817)

MDL CrossFire Commander – One of interfaces to Beilstein & Gmelin. (STN, Dialog, other MDL)

Today, "Beilstein" represents the Handbook, Beilstein Online, CrossFire, CrossFire plus Reactions, and CrossFire Gmelin, Autonom, Current Facts, and more.

Client software on all computers in the Library and Chemistry Department.

On Desktop Under Start Menu

Physical (Properties) Reactions Spectra

1881 - 1st Ed. Handbook of Organic Chemistry

By Friedrich Konrad Beilstein (Russian chemist) 1885 - 2nd edition 1906 - 3rd Ed. and death of Beilstein 1918 - 4th Ed. by German Chemical Society 1984-1998 - Print 5th Supple./4th Ed. (covers 1960-1979).

Only v. 17-27 (heterocycles) published (English). Ceased publication in 1998.

1994 - Beilstein CrossFire introduced.

(Handbuch migrated to a database in 1980’s).

2007 Elsevier acquired Beilstein database from frankfurt-based Beilstein Institute (Full Ownership)

1st major open access chemistry journal – Beilstein J. of Organic Chemistry

Organics (<255 “heavy” atoms) Organometallics with Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg,

Ca, Sr, and Ba central atoms Organometallic carbides, cyanides,

cyanates, and thiocyanates with C-metal bonds

Since 2002 Biomolecules e.g., hormones, enzymes, &

carbohydrates Mixtures & Polymers

Only about 50% of the compounds have CAS Registry Numbers.

Name searching is unreliable since Beilstein has relatively few synonyms.

Only sure search is a “Structure Search.”

1771-1959 - Comprehensive organic journal coverage.

1869-1959 – Comprehensive patent coverage.

1960-1979 - Patents & 2,000 journals selectively reviewed.

1980-1994 – Cut back to 80 prime journals increasing over time to 120 journals (no patents).

1980+ - Abstracts included. 1995 - Increased to 180 journals,

adding ecotox & pharmacology coverage.

Currently ~220 journals covered.

Inorganics Switched to English in ~1982Since 1971 Organometallics

except Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, & Ba central atoms

Incl. metal-carbon bonds except carbides, cyanides, cyanates, and thiocyanates.

1996 – Gmelin CrossFire introduced 1997 – Gmelin Inst. closed. Print version

ceased 1995-1999 – Data gap: minimal

coverage in online database 2000+ - Gmelin CrossFire produced by

Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker and supplied by MDL

~10 million compounds with up to ~425 properties (i.e., Fields)

~36 million “facts” ~18 million properties & spectra ~9 million

eco-toxicological/pharmacology ~9 million reaction details (e.g.,

temperature, pressure, solvent, yield, etc.)

~10 million reactions ~2 million literature references

2.1 million compounds with up to ~500 properties (fields)

1.6 million reactions 1.1 million literature

references

By structure or sub-structure By numerical values of

properties By text, e.g. bibliographic

information Predefined search forms By browsing indexes