A comparison of different approaches to Markush structure handling

• Published in: Journal of chemical information and computer sciences Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 64 - 68
• Main Author: Barnard, John M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.02.1991
• Subjects: Chemistry; Computer Systems; Computerised information retrieval; Computerized information services; Computerized information storage and retrieval; Databases, Bibliographic; Drug Design; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Information services; Information storage and retrieval; Information work; Magnetic tape; Markush structures; Molecular Structure; Online information retrieval; Patents as Topic; Pharmaceutics; Searching; Structures; Subject indexing; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Patents; Storage; Chemical structure; Markush structure; Information retrieval; Review; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0095-2338; 1520-5142
• DOI: 10.1021/ci00001a010

The history of the development of computer systems for storage and retrieval of Markush structures is reviewed briefly. The systems currently being developed by Chemical Abstracts Service, Derwent Publications/Questel/INPI, and International Documentation Company for Chemistry (IDC) are introduced, and the similarities and differences between the approaches they use for input representation and search are examined, especially in relation to the handling of generic nomenclature, the prospects for future development of such systems is discussed in light of recent and continuing research work, as is the potential for exchange of Markush structure databases between the different search systems.