Dr. Jozica Dolenc, Chemistry Information Consultant at ETH Zurich, will share her experience in supporting students and researchers on integrating chemistry databases and tools into their academic workflows. Depending on a student or researcher’s project-specific needs, Dr. Dolenc consults on how to best optimize Reaxys’ various query functions while educating them on the platform's overall ability to extract chemical information.

1. Dr. Jozica Dolenc, ETH Zurich, Chemistry | Biology | Pharmacy Information Center
Reaxys in Education and Research at
ETH Zurich

2. Agenda
• ETH Zurich and the Chemistry | Biology | Pharmacy Information Center
• Reaxys in Education
• Reaxys in Research
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 2

3. ETH Zurich at a Glance
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 3
Founded in 1855
One of the leading international
universities for technology and natural
sciences
• THE World University Ranking: No. 9 (2015/16)
• QS World University Ranking: No. 9 (2015/16)
• Academic Ranking of World Universities: No. 20 (2015)
Place of study, research and
employment for approximately 29’000
people from over 110 different countries
• 18’616 students
• 498 professors
• 8’143 staff members
Nobel Prize Laureates: 21

4. ETH Zurich: Organization
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 4

5. Chemistry | Biology | Pharmacy Information Center
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 5
Joined facility of the Department of
Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
and the Department of Biology
Scientific information skill center supporting
students and researchers
• Information resources: databases & tools
• Awareness
• Education & training
• Information consulting & retrieval
• Library services
• Place to study
Team of 10 members (information
consultants for biology, chemistry and
pharmacy, library professionals)
• Head: Dr. Oliver Renn

6. Chemistry | Biology | Pharmacy Information Center
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 6
www.infozentrum.ethz.ch

7. Databases and Tools
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 7

8. Databases and Tools
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 8

9. Reaxys in Education
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 9
Reaxys trainings are integrated into
• Five undergraduate lab courses
Organic Compounds: Synthesis and Properties
(Inorganic and Organic Chemistry I)
Searching for Organic Compounds
(Organic Chemistry for Students of Biology,
Pharmaceutical Sci. and Health Sci. & Techn.)
Searching for Organometallic and Inorganic
Compounds
(Inorganic and Organic Chemistry II)
Searching for Information on Polymers
(Practical Laboratory Course for Materials
Science Students)
Chemical Engineering Case Studies
• A course for chemistry and life
sciences PhD students
Scientific Information Retrieval & Management in
Life Sciences and Chemistry

10. Questions Most Often Asked by Undergraduate
Students
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 10
• How can I synthesize a given compound
• How can I characterize the compound
(melting point, IR spectra,…)
• How toxic is the compound (reagents),
how dangerous is the experimental
procedure

11. How Do You Think Undergraduate Students Usually
Start a Reaxys Search?
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 11

12. Students Choose...
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 12
Main reasons:
• Drawing the molecule is time consuming and you have to know its
chemical structure
• Chemical names are often complicated and not unique
1. Ask Reaxys, the well known Google-­like search bar
2. Create Structure Template from Name
3. Structure editor

13. Example 1
Synthesis of Cobalt (III) acetylacetonate
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 13
• Co(acac)2
• Molecular formula: C15H21CoO6
Inorganic and Organic Chemistry II:
Searching for Organometallic and Inorganic Compounds

14. Example 1
Ask Reaxys
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 14

15. Example 1
Preparations
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 15

16. Example 1
Exclude Patents
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 16

17. Example 1
Sort by Reactant Availability or Filter by Document Type
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 201517
or

18. Example 1
Characterization, Physical Data
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 18

19. Example 1
Physical Data, Spectra
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 201519

20. Example 1
Reaxys Report
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 20

21. Example 2
Synthesis of (1,1'-­bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene)palladium(II) dichloride
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 21
• PdCl2(dppf)
• Molecular formula: C34H28P2FePdCl2
Natalja Früh & Raffael Huber
Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, ETH Zurich

22. Example 2
Ask Reaxys
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 22

23. Example 2
Molecular Formula
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 23

24. Example 2
Preparations
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 24

25. Example 2
Exclude Patents
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 25

26. Example 2
Synthesis of 1,1'-­bis-­(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 26

27. Reaxys in Research
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 27
Coffee Lectures
• 10-­minute presentations about databases,
tools and services
• Given in blocks of three weeks, three days a
week
• Free coffee or tea is always available
Research Group Menu Card Seminars
• Tailored seminars for research groups
• The research groups can create their own
Information Menu by choosing an Entrée,
Main Course, Dessert, and Special from our
Research Group Menu Card

28. Questions Most Often Asked by Researchers
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 28
• How can I best define my
substructure?
• Can I search for compounds that
have a specific property?
• Can I do a batch query in
Reaxys?

29. How Do You Think Researchers Usually Start a Reaxys
Search?
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 29

30. Researchers Choose ...
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 30
Main reasons:
• Researchers know their molecules very well (incl. CAS registry number)
• Substructure search and precise reaction searches are possible using the
structure editor
CAS registry number or Structure editor, depending on the question asked

31. Example 3
Searching for Bioactive Derivatives of Epothilone A
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 31
Epothilone A is a natural product with known
cancer cell inhibitory activity
• Microtubule-­binding agent
Goal: Epothilone A structure optimization for
development of new chemotherapeutic drugs
• Structural variations around the epoxide ring
• Changes in the size and flexibility of the
C9-­C11 segment
• Variations at C3
• Variations in the thiazole ring

32. Example 3
Substructure Search
32Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015

33. Example 3
Substructure Search
33

34. Example 3
Searching for Bioactive Derivatives of Epothilone A
34

35. Example 3
35
Epothilone AEpothilone A
Epothilone A aziridine(12S,13S,15S)-­
cyclopropyl
epothilone A
Epothilone E

36. Example 3
Pharmcological Effects
36

37. Example 4
Density Data for a Large Set of Compounds
Batch querying
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 37
Pascal Merz
Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zurich

38. Example 4
Density Data for a Large Set of Compounds
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 38

39. Example 4
Density Data for a Large Set of Compounds
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 39

40. Example 4
Density Data for a Large Set of Compounds
40

41. Reaxys is a Strong and Solid Database
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 41
• Excellent data quality and coverage
• Data is clearly presented
• Simple and intuitive interface
• Advanced search options for those who want more
Working with Reaxys is fun!

42. Thank You for Your Attention
Reaxys in Education and Research at ETH Zurich | Dr. Jozica Dolenc | 10. 12. 2015 42
dolenc@chem.ethz.ch