SciFinder: Tutorials and Training

On-demand SciFinder^® training resources are short, targeted materials, organized by search type. Titles marked with an asterisk (*) are designed to help you get you started quickly with searching in SciFinder. Special topics for more advanced users are also available.

New and occasional users may also find the Recorded Virtual Classes materials helpful. Download the materials and listen to the recordings at your convenience.

Need-to-Know Videos

Three minutes of practical, real-world applications of SciFinder features and capabilities.(Special thanks to Dr. Michael Christiansen of Utah State University for his contributions to these videos.)

Structure Searching

• Input Structures Using the Drawing Editor
• Search for Chemical Compounds Using a Structure Search
• Find Property Data, Regulatory Information, Commercial Availability, Bioactivity and Synthesis Information
• Conduct an Exact Structure Search
• Conduct a Substructure Search
• Conduct a Similarity Structure Search

Reaction Searching

• Search for Specific Reactions or Reaction Type
• Use SciPlanner to Plan a Synthesis Project
• Comparison of Reaction Search Types: Specify Variability vs Substructure

Reference Searching

• Search for a Specific Topic
• Search by Author Name

Polymer Searching

• Find Polymers Using Molecular Formulas
• Find Polymers Using Monomers

General Topics

• Find Chemistry in Full-Text Patents with PatentPak™
• Save and Combine Search Results
• Find Competitive Intelligence Information and Stay Up to Date on New Developments

 Overview Materials

• SciFinder Overview Presentation (PDF)
• Introduction to SciFinder

Substance Searching            

• Introduction to Substance Searching (tutorial)*
• How to Create a Substance Answer Set -  Search by chemical structure, molecular formula, and substance identifier. (PDF)*
• How to Work with a Substance Answer Set - Analyze and refine search results. (PDF)*
• Introduction to the SciFinder Drawing Editor - Use templates and shortcuts. Enter structures with CAS Registry Numbers^®. (tutorial)*
• Customize the SciFinder Drawing Editor - Set drawing preferences, customize common atoms palette, and create templates. (tutorial)
• Which Drawing Tools Control Variability? (10 minutes)
• Which Type of Structure Search Should you Choose? (10 minutes)
• Use SciFinder to Check for Substance Novelty and Properties - (10 minutes)
• What is a Markush Search? Why is it Important? (10 minutes)
• Find Commercial Sources Information (tutorial)
• How to Find Commercial Sources (PDF)

Reaction Searching 

• Introduction to Reaction Searching (tutorial)*
• How to Create a Reaction Answer Set - Draw and search reactions. Get Reactions tool. (PDF)*
• How to Work with a Reaction Answer Set - Analyze and Refine search results. Group by Document or Transformation. (PDF)*
• Draw Reactions - Apply variables and shortcuts. Assign reaction sites and map atoms. (tutorial)*
• Plan a Synthesis Project - Send data to SciPlanner™ and merge reactions into a synthesis plan. (tutorial)
• How Can Drawing Tools Effect Reaction Search Results? (11 minutes)
• Find Experimental Procedures to Synthesize Substances (10 minutes)
• Organize Your Data. Plan and Share a Project. (6 minutes)

Reference Searching

• Introduction to Reference Searching (tutorial)*
• How to Create a Reference Answer Set - Search by Research Topic, Author Name, Company Name, and Document Identifier. (PDF)*        
• How to Work with a Reference Answer Set - Analyze, Refine, and Categorize search results. (PDF)*  
• Reference Topic Searching: Best Practices (PDF)*
• Search by Research Topic and Set Up Alerts to Keep Current - (7 minutes)  

General Topics

• Create a Keep Me Posted (KMP) Alert - Create alerts, set frequency and duration, and request email notification. (tutorial)*
• How to Create a Keep Me Posted (KMP) Alert - Create alerts and set preferences. (PDF)*
• How to Print, Save, and Export (PDF)*

Special Topics

Polymers (recorded WebEx presentations)

• Get Started Searching for Polymers and Oligomers (14 minutes)
• Search for Polymer Substances (12 minutes)
• Search for Polymer Reactions (7 minutes) 
• Search for Hybrid and Post-treated Polymers (10 minutes)

Patents (recorded WebEx presentations)

• Patent Coverage and Patent Information in SciFinder (7 minutes)
• How Can a Markush Structure Search Help You In Your Research? (8 minutes)
• Patent Family Information and How It Can Aid Your Research (10 minutes)
• Finding Competitive Intelligence Information in SciFinder (6 minutes)