This document discusses the importance of Markush structures in patents and describes a technology for analyzing Markush claims in chemical patents. It notes that around 12% of US patents contain Markush claims covering thousands of structures. Existing Markush databases and services have limitations. The described Markush technology can represent complex Markush structures, search patent databases, visualize hits and non-hits, and assist with drafting new Markush claims. An example workflow uses the technology to extract Markush claims from relevant patents, validate structures against a project's ideas, and integrate the information into an in-house database. The technology aims to help write better patents and integrate IP knowledge into early-stage discovery.