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Before You Begin a Structure Search

When you want to retrieve Then your action is to
A specific compound and
  1. You know a chemical name
  2. You know a molecular formula
  3. Searching on a name or formula
    did not give the desired results
  1. Search the name in the /CN index
  2. Search the formula in the /MF index
  3. Build the structure and run an
    EXACT structure search
A specific compound, plus all
radiolabeled forms and stereoisomers		 Build the structure and run an
EXACT structure search
A specific substance, plus all salts,
mixtures, addition compounds, etc., in
which the substance is a component		 Build the structure and run a
FAMILY structure search
A structural fragment that can
be embedded within a larger structure		 Build the structure and run a
SUBSTRUCTURE search
Reproduced with the permission of CAS, a Division of the American Chemical Society, from "Tips for Searching the CAplus & REGISTRY Files." (CAS9613-0298)