JOURNAL OF SYNTHETIC METHODS

 

Q: How does the Derwent Reaction Service relate to the Journal of Synthetic Methods?

A: The Derwent Reaction Service provides a portfolio of reaction products which are, currently, built around the database of the Journal of Synthetic Methods.

Q: Why would I need more than one JSM product

A: The selection criteria are identical but different products cover different time periods.

Q: Why aren't there more reactions in JSM?

A: The JSM uses the selection criteria of novel synthetically useful reactions to give a tightly-focused database which yields a manageable number of highly relevant answers that can be reviewed quickly and easily. That way the searcher gets an immediate feel for the subject matter without being swamped with information which may or may not be central to the initial question. The Derwent abstract illustrates the type of reaction and details the scope and limitations of the method without having to enumerate all examples ever reported. If comprehensive coverage of many examples is required, the searcher will be much better placed to search exhaustively in other reaction databases having reviewed just a few key references first in JSM.

Q: How can you define novelty?

A: All reactions are selected by Derwent's reaction specialists who have many years experience in this field of chemistry. They are initially guided by the author's comments and by their own knowledge. All potential reactions are then screened against the JSM and the Theilheimer databases back until 1942. This is done by constructing a series of search queries to retrieve the candidate reaction. They may be looking for the reaction, the reagent or one or more of the authors. If the reaction is totally new there will be no answers and the reaction will be abstracted. If the reaction is a modification of a previously reported methods, there will be other answers. These are compared with the candidate reaction. If the sequence is identical in all respects then no more work is done with that reference. If there are significant and beneficial differences then an abstract is written for the candidate reaction and cross-references to the other previously reported reactions are included in the abstract. The cross-references take the form of JSM Accession Numbers for materials published (by Derwent) between 1975 to date and Theilheimer Volume and Abstract Numbers for materials published prior to 1975.

Q: Like reactions appear together in the journal. How is this done?

A: The abstracts within each monthly issue are numbered sequentially and are published in an order that groups like reactions together so as to make browsing and comparisons easier. The order of publication is determined by the type and mechanism of the reaction (using the priority of the Theilheimer reaction symbol) and then by the class of the reagent used in the key step.

Q: What is the difference between the JSM and the Theilheimer series of books?

A: Both the JSM and the Theilheimer Series of books are produced by Thomson Scientific. Although the latter is published by Karger AG, basle, Switzerland.

The JSM provides 3,000 abstracts detailing novel synthetic methods, per year. With the JSM you have a choice of updating frequency, media and retrieval techniques.

The Theilheimer books contain up to 1,000 abstracts detailing the most significant developments that have occurred during the last year. Essentially, all material published in the JSM over the last year has been reviewed and regrouped as an annual compilation. The books are published annually (every six months from 1997) about six months to a year after the corresponding JSM material. All reactions are cross-referenced to each other and to previous volumers of the Theilheimer books. The books also include supplementary references and reviews.

Otherwise, the books are very similar in content. The same definition of novelty. the same selection criteria and the same method of grouping are used.