Finding Information for Chemistry 336

Finding a Synthesis:

Here are two different places to start when looking for a synthesis to present in class:

1. Organic Letters is a publication of the American Chemical Society.  It publishes medium-length papers about new syntheses.  You can presume that if a paper is published there, it is of a novel and important synthesis... but it's up to you to read and sort out why that syntheis is novel and important. 

2. Organic Syntheses Online is the modern web version of a series of books in which Chemists have for years looked up syntheses of compounds.  Both mundane and critically important syntheses are published here, so you may have to sort to find one that is suitably interesting to present on.   

Journal Databases:

You can use the library's journal databases to find more papers about your topic.

Web of Science is a database of the most important journals in the sciences.  Use this system to find out who has cited articles you are reading, as well as to find more articles on the same topic.

SciFinder Web version is the American Chemical Society's index of chemistry literature.  You will need to use the registration link given to you in class to set up a login and password for this system.  Contact the science librarian if you need help registering or using SciFinder. 

Further Assistance:

Need more help?  You are strongly encouraged to contact Sarah Oelker for assistance.  Email is the best way to reach her: soelker@mtholyoke.edu.