Beilstein and Gmelin on CrossFire
Beilstein and Gmelin on CrossFire Commander are two chemistry databases accessible in
the library or the software can be downloaded and installed on your own computer. They are not available via the Web.
Library Availability
Beilstein Commander is available in the MSU library on most public
workstations. Look for Beilstein Commander icon in the Programs folder. Close or minimize this
Web browser window, and then click on the Beilstein Commander desktop icon. Ask at the reference desk for assistance.
Installation Instructions
MSU faculty, staff, and students may also download and install the software, (MDL Commander is the new name). From an on-campus computer- Download Macintosh or MS Windows versions from the University of Wisconsin Crossfire Client Distribution Page.
- See the installation notes for Windows or Macintosh (MDL Commander v6 only) computers.
- During set-up, enter the following
- Host IP Address: beilstein.library.wisc.edu
- Group Name: MONTSTAT
- Article Resolver: http://qs7th3bl8m.search.serialssolutions.com/
- Patent resolver: http://sc.elsevier.com/xflink (this is the default so leave it as is)
- Contact Greg Notess (x3171, align at montana.edu) or another reference librarian to obtain user ID and password.
- Start up commander, and the go under Options and Select Structure Editor. Change to MDL Crossfire Structure Editor unless you have one of the other programs installed.
What are they? Beilstein and Gmelin are two separate chemical databases. CrossFire or Beilstein Commander are the names for the software used to search the databases. MSU licenses and provides access to the Beilstein & Gmelin as a cooperative effort with other university libraries around the US. The database is mounted at the University of Wisconsin Libraries.
The Beilstein Database covers organic chemistry and includes over seven million compounds, 10 million chemical reaction references, and 20 million associated chemical, physical, and biological property records. It covers heterocyclic, acyclic and isocyclic organic compounds drawn from the literature since 1771. It does not cover polymers. The substance sections information includes structural information, including chemical, physical, and biological properties, preparative methods, chemical behavior, and literature references. The reactions section includes information on the preparation of substances and reaction attributes.
The Gmelin Database (1772 - ) covers structures, properties, and references to the literature in organometallic and inorganic chemistry. It has 1.2 million compounds including minerals, polymers, coordination compounds, alloys, glasses, and isomorphans. It contains the structural, factual, and bibliographic data cited in the Gmelin Handbook of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry.
Content: Beilstein:
- Over 8 million compounds
- Over 9 million reactions
- Over 35 million associated chemical property and bioactivity records on:
- pharmacodynamics
- environmental toxicology
- transport
- distribution
- fate
- Over 750,000 abstracts and titles indexed from the primary organic chemical literature since 1980
- Over 500,000 bioactive compounds
Gmelin:
- 1.6 million compounds
- 1.3 million reactions
- 900,000 citations, including titles and abstracts from 1995
Updates: Quarterly
Journal List: Data comes from journals in these lists: Beilstein 175+ journals [PDF] and Gmelin 62 journals [PDF].
Availability: NOT available on the Web. Separate client software available on library public computers and in chemistry computer labs.
Access is available from computers on the MSU campus only, using MDL CrossFire Commander software.
Help: There are several excellent overviews, tutorials, and practice exercises available from other libraries. See a list of help files from the University of Wisconsin.