System searching, CHIRBASE

The need for an overall and combined chemical structure and data search system became clear to us some time ago, and resulted in the decision to build CHIRBASE, a molecular-oriented factual database. The concept utilized in this database approach is related to the importance of molecular interactions in chiral recognition mechanisms. Solely a chemical information system permits the recognition of the molecular key fingerprints given by the new compound among thousands of fingerprints of known compounds available in a database. 

In this chapter, we will discuss the present status of CHIRBASE and describe the various ways in which two (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) chemical structure queries can be built and submitted to the searching system. In particular, the ability of this information system to locate and display neighboring compounds in which specified molecular fragments or partial structures are attached is one of the most important features because this is precisely the type of query that chemists are inclined to express and interpret the answers. Another aspect of the project has been concerned with the interdisciplinary use of CHIRBASE. We have attempted to produce a series of interactive tools that are designed to help the specialists or novices from different fields who have no particular expertise in chiral chromatography or in searching a chemical database. 

Today, the use of CHIRBASE as a tool in aiding the chemist in the identification of appropriate CSPs has produced impressive and valuable results. Although recent developments diminish the need for domain expertise, today the user must possess a certain level of knowledge of analytical chemistry and chiral chromatography. Nevertheless, further refinements will notably reduce this required level of expertise. Part of this effort will include the design of an expert system which will provide rule sets for each CSP in a given sample search context. The expert system will also be able to query the user about the specific requisites for each sample (scale, solubility, etc.) and generate rules which will indicate a ranked list of CSPs as well their most suitable experimental conditions (mobile phase, temperature, pH, etc.). 

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