How do I search for organometallic compounds?
Doing structure searches for organometallic and coordination compounds in SciFinder is a challenge. If you’re looking for an exact structure, it’s sometimes easier to use the molecular formula option instead. (A name search is generally not a good approach.) If you’re drawing the structure, always select “Show precision analysis” before running the search. Then select the “conventional structure” subset of the results. (Note: precision analysis is not available if there is stereochemistry, or for similarity searches.) There’s also a limiter for coordination compounds that you can check if you wish. Another tip: Turn off valency analysis in the drawing applet’s preference pane so that the system doesn’t keep bothering you about nonstandard valencies as you draw. It will still ask you to confirm the nonstandard valency before doing the search, and just click OK to proceed as drawn. For a more extensive overview of searching for inorganic compounds, go here.
