Ask REGgie: Finding information about substances that do not have associated references


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Q. Why do some substances in CAS REGISTRY^SM not have any associated literature or patent references in an STN database? How can I learn more about these substances?

A. Although records in REGISTRY traditionally represent substances indexed for the CAS databases or other STN databases, substances from other sources are also included.

Background

REGISTRY is the most authoritative collection of disclosed chemical substance information, and CAS is the source and final authority for CAS Registry Numbers. All CAS Registry Numbers are assigned by CAS scientists and are recorded in REGISTRY.

Records in REGISTRY represent substances indexed for the CAS databases CA^SM/CAplus^SM, CAOLD^SM, CASREACT, CHEMCATS, and CHEMLIST, as well as other STN databases. Substances from other sources are also included in REGISTRY. The accompanying table describes reasons that some substances do not have any associated literature or patent references.

Finding information about an unreferenced substance

To learn more about a substance in REGISTRY that does not have any literature or patent references in an STN database, consult the following fields:

Source of Registration (SR)

For CAS Registry Numbers 97314-93-7 and higher, the SR field indicates the reason for first registering the substance. You can EXPAND or SEARCH the content of the SR field.
Class Identifier (CI)

For substances registered to support CAS registration policies, the CI field may provide additional insights as to why the substance was registered.

Examples of substances in REGISTRY without any literature or patent references in an STN database.

The substance was initially registered	And the SR (and CI) field contains	Then the substance is	To find additional information
To support CAS registration policies	SR: CA CI: COM SR: CA Index Guide^TM or Ring Systems Handbook CI: RPS SR: GENBANK	A component of a multicomponent substance such as a copolymer, salt, or mixture A ring parent, i.e., the main ring system excluding substituents A translated protein from GenBank	Search the CAS Registry Number in the Component Registry Number (/CRN) field to retrieve the multicomponent substances containing this component. Many of these multicomponent substances will have references. Display the Ring System Data information, i.e., D RSD, to obtain the Ring Identifier (RID) for the ring system, e.g., 7086.54.2. Search the first two parts of the RID in the /RID field to obtain substance(s) containing the ring system. Many of the compounds containing ring systems will have references. Use the SEQLINK EXACT command to locate the CAS Registry Numbers for all sequences with the same backbone. Use the CAS Registry Numbers for comprehensive retrieval of associated references.
From chemical libraries in CHEMCATS	SR: Chemical Library	An individual member of a chemical library	Most of these substances are either new registrations not yet linked to CHEMCATS or substances that were removed from CHEMCATS at the suppliers request. See the name of the supplier in the SR field.
From chemical catalogs in CHEMCATS	SR: Chemical Catalog	From a chemical catalog	Most of these substances are either new registrations not yet linked to CHEMCATS or substances that were removed from CHEMCATS at the suppliers request. See the name of the supplier in the SR field.
From web sources	SR: Other Sources	From a web source	Contact the database supplier listed under SR.
From a reaction database	SR: Reaction Database	From processing of a reaction database	Check the LC field.
From data collections that are not represented in STN databases	SR: American Society of Hospital Pharmacists SR: Environment Canada SR: European Union SR: U.S. Adopted Names Council (USAN) SR: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) SR: U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) SR: World Health Organization (WHO)	Included at the request of one of these agencies	Consult the original source for any additional known information.
By CAS Client Services^SM	SR: CAS Client Services	Included as a request submitted to CAS Client Services	Additional information is not available.

Substances that become referenced due to REGISTRY updates

The content of the SR field reflects the reason a substance was initially registered. However, because REGISTRY is updated daily, reference information may be added for a substance that was initially registered without a reference.

Here are two examples of substances initially registered from other sources. The first example does not have any associated references, while the second example is associated with a CA/CAplus reference.

References not available:

RN   902259-11-4  REGISTRY
ED   Entered STN:  17 Aug 2006
CN   2-Butanone, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-, phenylhydrazone (9CI)  (CA INDEX NAME)
MF   C16 H18 N2 O
SR   Other Sources
       Database: NCI 3D (National Cancer Institute)

**PROPERTY DATA AVAILABLE IN THE 'PROP' FORMAT**

References available:

RN   902258-77-9  REGISTRY
ED   Entered STN:  17 Aug 2006
CN   1,3-Dioxane, 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-methyl-  (CA INDEX NAME)
MF   C13 H18 O4
SR   Other Sources
       Database: NCI 3D (National Cancer Institute)

LC   STN Files:   CA, CAPLUS

  **PROPERTY DATA AVAILABLE IN THE 'PROP' FORMAT**
               1 REFERENCES IN FILE CA (1907 TO DATE)
               1 REFERENCES IN FILE CAPLUS (1907 TO DATE)

Additional resources

For more information, see the REGISTRY Database Summary Sheet.

Updated: 7/21/2008 12:48:31 PM