Simplified
Overview and Suggestions for Use
Beilstein[ QD251.B4 Ref. Rm.] is a powerful tool for accessing
information in all areas of organic chemistry. The goals of this compilation
are:
| 1. |
to supply condensed, verified and accurate data on
the composition, preparation, structure, properties and analysis
of all organic compounds which are reported in reliable scientific
literature |
| 2. |
give complete references to the original sources, such as journal
articles.
In order to use Beilstein it is necessary to know in general terms
the way it is organized, the conventions used to summarize information,
and some basic facts about organic compounds and chemical nomenclature. |
Basic Facts About Organic Compounds and Chemical Nomenclature
Compounds
Organic compounds include all compounds of the element carbon, except
carbonates and some of their relatives, such as CO2, which are traditionally
considered inorganic. All compounds that do not contain carbon are
inorganic . Formulas of organic compounds are extremely numerous
and may represent very complex molecules, involving rings, side
chains, etc. The most important distinction is between those of
cyclic (with rings) and acyclic (no rings) formulas. Cyclic organic
compounds can be homocyclic (the ring atoms are exclusively carbon)
or heterocyclic (the ring atoms include elements other than carbon,
e.g. N, S, O, etc.) |
Formulas
Compounds are represented by formulas made up of the symbols of
the elements present and numerals indicating the number of atoms
of the same element or the numbers of repetitions of some combinations
of atoms ( called groups or radicals). There are two main classes
of formulas in the literature. The molecular formula gives only
the elements and the number of atoms of each of them in the molecule.
The molecular formula for ethanol (ethyl alcohol), for instance,
is C2H6O. Different compounds may have the same molecular formula;
e.g. that of methyl ether is also C2H6O. The structural formula
indicates how the atoms are arranged in the molecule. For instance,
the structural formula of ethanol is C2 H5OH and that of methyl
ether is CH3OCH3. |
Outline of Beilstein's Organization
The collection is divided into one basic series and five succeeding supplementary
series with the following designations:
• Basic series: H ( up to 1910).
• Supplementary series: EI, EII, EIII, EIII/EIV, EIV and EV at 10-year
intervals (1910 - 1979).
Each series is made up of 27 volumes, many of which comprise several physically
distinct parts. Individual compounds are arranged in different volumes
according to a complex scheme based on the groups of atoms included in
each compound and on whether the compounds are acyclic, isocyclic or heterocyclic
.
The Beilstein Guide [QD251.B43W44 1976 Ref. Desk] has tables showing the
dates, contents and color codes of the volumes. Each volume contains a
Name Index and a Formula Index, and there are several cumulative indexes
in both categories. The original language is German, but the text is in
English beginning with the fifth supplementary series. The lowest level
of classification is the system number which groups together compounds
of similar structural characteristics. Series EV starts with volume 17;
volumes 1-16, which refer to well-known compounds, are omitted.
In the earlier series journal citations are given by means of the abbreviated
title, volume and pages. The full titles corresponding to the abbreviations
are given in the first volume of each series. A chart at the beginning
of the first volume of the series provides a concordance of volumes and
years.
Finding Information in Beilstein
For most practical purposes there are three main ways of searching:
| 1. |
direct search of the volumes using the rules of the
Beilstein system as explained in the Beilstein Guide [QD251.B43W44
1976 Ref. Desk]. |
| 2. |
indirect search using the various indexes. In most cases the simplest
procedure is to use the Molecular Formula Index. |
| 3. |
direct search using the reference number (volume + page number)
for the compound as found in the Aldrich Catalog[(TP202.A38 1998-99
Ref. Desk] or in other sources. In many cases this is the simplest
and fastest way to access Beilstein's information on a given compound.
If a compound is not found in the Aldrich Catalog one can often
find a similar compound (similar structural formula) in the catalog
and in many cases the required compound will be found near that
one in Beilstein. |
Bibliography
| How to use Beilstein : Beilstein handbook of organic chemistry.
Beilstein Institute. Frankfurt/Main, 1978 [QD251.B43B434 1978 Ref.
Rm.] This 34-page booklet is shelved next to theHandbuch. |
| The Beilstein guide : a manual for the use of Beilsteins Handbuch
der Organischen Chemie. Oskar Weissbach [translated by H. M.
R.Hoffmann]. [QD251.B43W44 1976 Ref. Desk] |
| The Beilstein system : strategies for effective searching.
Stephen R. Heller, editor. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society,
1998. [QD251.B417 1998 Ref. Rm.] |
Other Reference Guides
Guide #1: History of Science
and Technology
Guide #2: Units, Dimensions,
Conversions and Formulas
