Organic Chemistry
A Guide to Key Sources in Synthetic and Reaction Chemistry
The literature of organic chemistry is vast and extends far back in time. The bulk of the primary research literature is found in journals, but patents are another major source of chemical information. Later, this primary information is summarized, reviewed, and abstracted in the secondary literature, which includes handbooks, compendia, indexes, reviews, textbooks, and reference works. While organic chemistry is a rapidly developing and expanding field, its literature has a long "half life" compared to some other chemical disciplines. This makes the concept of retrospectivity important. Much of the older information an organic chemist requires still exists only in printed format, although databases and e-journals have become the preferred medium for locating current information.
Consulting good secondary and review sources can greatly speed up searching and reading the primary literature. This pathfinder describes the most useful and best-known of these, and acts as a guide to finding preparation and reaction information in an academic chemistry library. Sources listed are located in the Mallet Chemistry Library's reference collection unless otherwise noted, but it's always a good idea to check the Library Catalog for the current location and status of any book.
Introduction 
