Help – Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite ChemSpider SyntheticPages in my paper/thesis?

Our recommended format (for RSC Journals) is: A. Chemist, ChemSpider SyntheticPages, 2001, http://cssp.chemspider.com/123

Do I need any special software?

No, apart from a standard web browser you will need a structure drawing package (e.g. ChemDraw, ChemSketch, Symyx Draw) which has the facility to create images in either TIF, PNG or GIF formats.

Can I publish after submitting a procedure to ChemSpider SyntheticPages?

Yes. You may incorporate the information into a paper (subject of course to the third party’s terms and conditions) or elsewhere. Although, you should consider that submitting a ChemSpider SyntheticPages may affect your right to claim a patent on the material at a later date.

Can I submit a ChemSpider SyntheticPages on a known procedure?

Absolutely. This is perhaps the most useful type of contribution. Much of the chemistry posted on the site will be known and will have been described in another form as part of a journal article by you or others. Submissions to ChemSpider SyntheticPages are most frequently single examples of procedures with the focus on reliability and reproducibility, and with much more detail than the literature method.

Is ChemSpider SyntheticPages intended to replace publication in journals?

No, ChemSpider SyntheticPages is not a substitute for peer-review journals. These are important and enduring vehicles for the timely presentation of original work. ChemSpider SyntheticPages presents an individual’s original laboratory experience of a practical procedure.

How does ChemSpider SyntheticPages compare to database X, Y, Z ?

ChemSpider SyntheticPages is not a replacement for other popular chemistry databases, which provide exhaustive coverage of all of the scientific literature. If you get a hit from the ChemSpider SyntheticPages database you get an individual’s original laboratory experience of a practical procedure.

How do I change the email address that is saved in my profile?

Simply send an email to chemspider-at-rsc.org  containing the username of your account, your old email address and the new email address that you would like to use, and we will update your profile for you.

Do I have to transfer my copyright to ChemSpider SyntheticPages?

Authors do not transfer copyright and can further use their content without limitation. However authors do grant ChemSpider SyntheticPages a perpetual license to display their content on this website.