CAS Registers 50 Millionth Compound

The 50-millionth substance was recorded on Sept. 7 in the CAS Registry maintained by Chemical Abstracts Service in Columbus, Ohio, a division of ACS. The substance is a novel anylmethylidene heterocycle with analgesic properties.

According to CAS, reaching the 50 million mark so quickly is an indicator of the accelerating pace of scientific knowledge. CAS registered the 40-millionth substance just nine months ago. In contrast, it took 33 years for CAS to reach the 10 million mark in 1990.

"The 50 million substances in CAS Registry have the potential to enable new discoveries in every field of scientific study, from cancer research to the development of new consumer goods, the creation of more effective drugs, or the discovery of faster and smaller computer processors," says Matthew Toussant, senior vice president of editorial operations at CAS. "Scientific discoveries build upon past discoveries, and it is the quality and comprehensiveness of CAS Registry that enable chemistry innovation."

The rapid growth of CAS Registry mirrors the breadth and depth of creativity in research labs throughout the world," says Grace Baysinger, head librarian at the Swain Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Library at Stanford University. "CAS Registry is an indispensable resource for users in research, education, and industry."

Chemical & Engineering News

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