Experience the full power of SciFinder^®: CAS offers instructor-led and on-demand training to help you build your search skills.

Resources related to frequently used SciFinder search techniques and topics are organized on this page according to search type. New Searchers may find those marked with an asterisk(*) especially helpful.

For more comprehensive curricula and the complete set of more than 60 on-demand SciFinder training resources, please visit the CAS Learning Solutions resource center

Please view the Training & Events Calendar for easy access to upcoming instructor-led training.

Substance Searching

From properties to patentability, find more information about more substances than in any other single source.

• Introduction to Substance Searching (15-minute tutorial) *
  • Introduction to Substance Searching (Chinese)
  • Introduction à la Recherche de Substance (French)
  • Einführung in die Suche nach Stoffen (German)
  • Introdução à Pesquisa por Substâncias (Portuguese)
  • Introducción a la Búsqueda de Substancias (Spanish)
• How to Create a Substance Answer Set (PDF)
• How to Work with Substance Answer Sets (PDF)
• Introduction to the SciFinder Drawing Editor (10-minute tutorial)*
• Customize the SciFinder Drawing Editor (10 minute tutorial)
• Search by Exact Structure (5-minute tutorial)*
  • Search by Exact Structure (Chinese)
  • Recherche par Structure Exacte (French)
  • Suche nach Exakter Struktur (German)
  • Pesquisa por Estrutura Quimica Exata (Portuguese)
  • Buscar por Estructura Exacta (Spanish)
• Search by Substructure (5-minute tutorial)
• How to Find Commercial Sources (PDF)
• Get Commercial Sources (10-minute tutorial)

Search Substances (Virtual Class recordings)*

• Part 1 (Search by substance identifier and molecular formula)
• Part 2 (Exact structure searching, refining and sorting search results)
• Part 3 (Substructure searching, refining and analyzing search results)
• Workbook for Parts 1-3 (PDF)
• Exercises for Part 1-3 (PDF)

Reaction Searching

Learn how SciFinder's unique tools and world's leading reaction content help you make better decisions faster.

• Introduction to Reaction Searching (15-minute tutorial)
• How to Create a Reaction Answer Set (PDF)
• How to Work with Reaction Answer Sets (PDF)
• Draw Reactions (10-minute tutorial)
• Plan a Synthesis Project (15-minute tutorial)

Search Reactions (Virtual Class recordings)*

• Part 1 (Reaction substructure search, grouping results)
• Part 2 (Analyze and refine reaction answer sets, group by transformation type)
• Part 3 (SciPlanner, finding commercial sources for substances)
• Workbook for Part 1-3 (PDF)
• Exercises for Parts 1-3 (PDF)

Reference Searching

Our unrivaled collection of chemistry and related science patent coverage and information derived from the world's scientific literature ensure you have the information you need when you need it.

• Introduction to Reference Searching (15-minute tutorial) *
  • Introduction to Reference Searching (Chinese)
  • Introduction à la Recherche de Références (French)
  • Einführung in die Verweissuche (German)
  • Introdução à Pesquisa de Referências (Portuguese)
  • Introducción a la Búsqueda de Referencias (Spanish)
• Search for References by Research Topic (5-minute tutorial)*
  • Search for References by Research Topic (Chinese)
  • Rechercher des Références par Sujet de Recherche (French)
  • Suche nach Verweisen nach Research Topic (German)
  • Procurar Referências por Termo de Busca (Portuguese)
  • Buscar Referencias por Tema (Spanish)
• Search References by Research Topic (Virtual Class recordings)*
  • Part 1 (Getting started and building a query) (~10 minutes)
  • Part 2 (Analyze and Refine answer sets) (~10 minutes)
  • Part 3 (Saving and exporting answers, accessing full text) (~10 minutes)
  • Workbook for Parts 1-3 (PDF)
  • Exercises for Parts 1-3 (PDF)

General Topics

• Add a Keep Me Posted (KMP) Alert (5-minute tutorial)
• How to Create a Keep Me Posted (KMP) Alert (PDF)
• How to Print, Save, and Export (PDF)*