One of the more common starting sentences for threads on this board is something like "Can anyone point me to a method for (insert compound here). . .". And, in fact, many denizens of the Forum have been *extremely* forthcoming with specific suggestions.

What I'd like to do is to generalize the question: "Where should you look for existing methods?". There will probably be an obvious bias toward on-line, but don't neglect hard-copy, and no restrictions as to free, public, commercial, whatever.

If this pans out, I propose to pull this thread along with the "useful links" thread into a separate topic to make for easier access and a really useful resource.

So, thanks in advance for the input!

-- Tom Jupille / LC Resources

Taken this one step further - it maybe a good idea to have a general HPLC FAQ on this site.

Tom,

Sorry I don't have a good one step answer. I work in a pharmaceutical company so I usually start with "approved" methods USP, EP, JP, etc. Then I hit the internet, Google is probably the best general search engine. PubMed has key word search and J. Chrom abstracts on line. Many instrument and column manufactures have searchable application notes/data bases. SciQuest is occasionally useful, has chromatograms and conditions. Most pharmaceutical companies have purchased on line access to comercial databases. One good idea that I do use is a search view that I set up at www.octopus.com this consolidates all of the above search input forms into one browser window. This lets me search all of the above in about ten minutes. If you register for a free account I can e-mail you the view.

Regarding this site it would be great if there was a troubleshooting thread where you could upload a chromatogram as a jpeg, gif, or even a doc file and a form to collect a complete set of method parameters. It would make it a lot easier to help the many posts with method/instrument problems.

Thanks for the site.

Top source: Chemical Abstracts (American Chemical Society).
Very useful for "bio.." is
http://www.bmn.com (biomednet, has a very good access to medline lit search...).
More on chem:
http:///www.chemweb.com has access to Beilstein, etc.
http://www.chemnews.cambridgesoft.com

Tom M.,

Do you know if it is possible to consult JP on internet in English in the same way as EP and USP?. Do you have the http adress?

Thanks

KAF,

Here is a link to the JP:
http://moldb.nihs.go.jp/jp/index.html

BP:
http://www.pharmacopoeia.co.uk/britphar/bpfrs.htm

Sorry, forgot to mention that the JP site is just a name and structure DB and is not linked to the methods. Like the rest, it is available on CDROM which can then be put online locally.

Thanks Tom,

At least is a way to know if there is anywhere an official method for a pharmaceutical compound !!