The Printed Beilstein Handbook: An enduring resource in organic
chemistry.
Barnett, Philip. Science/Engineering Library,
Abstracts of Papers, 228th ACS National Meeting,
Abstract
For over a century, the printed
Beilstein Handbook of Organic Chemistry. has been a nonpareil source of data on
properties of organic compounds. Until about a decade ago, many organizations
collected most or all of the printed volumes. While many users now access
Beilstein on either the subscription based CrossFireŽ or the online Beilstein
database, many other users are bound to the printed handbook because they
either cannot afford CrossFireŽ or they lack a sufficient budget for extensive
searching of the database. Moreover, the venerable printed version has a unique
feature: one can browse to see how compounds related to a compound of interest
are prepared, even if the compound of interest has not yet been synthesized. New users of the massive printed handbook are
often intimidated by the difficulty of learning the complex and multi-layered
rules for locating compounds in the printed vols. However, tutorials and user
aids like the ones in the Clearinghouse for Chemical. Information Instructional
Materials, and a small computer program, SANDRAŽ, from the Beilstein Institute,
enable new and occasional users to readily locate substances in these books.
One such tutorial:
http://www.indiana.edu/~cheminfo/33-16.html
explains both the layout of the handbook and how to use SANDRAŽ. This tutorial,
accompanied by an appropriate assignment (such as finding some physical. properties
of a given compound in the main and all supplementary volumes.) will teach
mastery of the handbook. At the same time this regimen will reassure students
that they can find any desired substance in this printed work.