In 2008, CAS database content grew to unprecedented levels with the addition of more than 1.2 million indexed document records to CAplusSM, an all-time high, plus more than 8 million records for organic and inorganic substances to the CAS REGISTRYSM. In addition, 1.1 million records were added for sequences.
CAS REGISTRYSM now includes more than 41 million organic and inorganic substances. Citations associated with document records in CAplusSM grew to more than 220 million during 2008.
In CAS databases, researchers can now explore the largest collection of disclosed chemical synthesis information. This incorporates 29 million preparations, including more than 16 million single- and multi-step reactions from 1840 to the present.
On November 21, 2008, CAS achieved a significant milestone. It assigned its 40 millionth CAS Registry Number® (CAS RN) for organic and inorganic substances: CAS RN 1073662-18-6 for an azulenobenzofuran derivative. The phenomenal growth of the CAS REGISTRYSM database has been aided by CAS' addition of records for more than one million substances from Web sources that meet CAS' substance registration criteria, and more than 3.75 million prophetics from patents.
Also in November, CAS offered a new Web version of SciFinder® with enhanced features, including powerful Refine capability, additional options to Combine Answer Sets, and one-click linking to users' favorite SciFinder® answers.
SciFinder was adopted by a growing number of educational institutions and remained the leading scientific research tool for academia. For the ninth consecutive year, growth exceeded 100 additional subscribers, reaching 1,571 by year end.
CAS now guarantees within 14 days from date of publication the availability of Korean, Chinese and Indian patent bibliographic data and abstracts in CAplusSM. ChemPort® now provides links to full-text Korean patents through KIPRIS and to Chinese patents through SIPO.
In December, CAS released a beta version of Common Chemistry, a Web-based free access resource providing accurate and authoritative CAS Registry Numbers and associated substance data for some 7,800 substances of widespread, general public interest. Common Chemistry can be searched free of charge and includes reciprocal links to related chemical information on Wikipedia.