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How can I search for more complicated compound names?

Solution

Here are some useful conventions and tips for compound name searching:

  • Standard paranthesis characters can be used in WebCSD text/numeric searches, so you can search for 'cobalt(ii)' or 'bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane'.
  • You can use '+' and '-' characters to define stereochemistry, e.g. '(+-)-Nefopam'.
  • Lower case Greek characters are stored in the text using their latin alphabet descriptions, e.g. alpha for α and mu for μ. Upper case Greek characters are spelt out and prefixed by c, e.g. cdelta for Δ.
  • The names of elements Al, Cs and S are spelt aluminium, cesium, sulfur.
  • Bridging ligands in polymeric metal coordination complexes are identified by the bridging indicator μ, with the polymer identified by the prefix catena, e.g. catena-((μ2-2,5-dihydroxy-p-benzoquinonato)-zinc).
  • Names of hydrates will contain the words hemihydrate, monohydrate, dihydrate, etc., otherwise, just hydrate if the multiplier is a non-integer value.
  • If other solvents are present, the name will contain the word solvate; clathrate is used for solvates which are clathrated, as in host-guest compounds.
  • Deuterated species will always contain the name characters deuter.
  • Characters which would normally be typeset as superscripts or subscripts are enclosed within the characters $ (up) and ! (down) eg.: 'eta$5!-cyclopentadienyl' will match strings including 'η5-cyclopentadienyl'.​