What has been Published?-More Patents than Journal Literature There is reluctance especially among academicians t o read, scan. and search the oatent literature. The situation is worsened hy the d ~ s ~ n c l ~ n uni t many h ~ r t e n c erducntorr; and librar~anst u instruct students on the use uf patents and patent alerting I P T V I C ~ S other than Ch~rnceol.Alrslrocr,. Perhaps, one way t o stimulate interest in patents is to show that they are frequently the predominate source of published information for a given topic. Results of 12 retrospective searches of the literature for suhjeets in organic and polymer chemistry are tabulated. In each instance, for the last year covered by the search, the approximate number of references to patents (basic or first issue) and the approximate number of references to journal articles are shown. Of the 12 examples, nine showed a t least 10 more references to patents than references to journal articles. At least 20 more references to patents than to articles were found in four of the examples. Heretofore others have commented on the benefits of n n t e n t ~ ~
~~
~~
' Hanford, W. E. and Maizell, R. E., Paper
presented a t the 162nd meeting of the American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C., September 14, 1971. Hunter, P. J Arner. Soe. Inform. Sei., 23,335 (1972). Saunderson, K. M. ASLIB Proceed., 24,244 (1972). Dynapol 1454 Page Mill Road Palo Alto, California 94304
J a m e s H. Schwartz
Year Completed
Subject Amine Nitrites ar Volatile Corrosion inhibitors Copolymerr of Acrylonitrile and Dirnethylacrylamide CoPolymers of Olefinr and Dimethylacrylamide Fiber Reinforced Coatings Fillers for Polyurethane Foam Flame-~erirtant Poiyacrylonitrile Flocculants Bared on Acrylamide-Acrylate Coooiymerr Polyesters via
Number o f References PaArtitents cier (more Iless than) than)
15 None None
20
15 20
5 5 15
HYdrOxybenmic Acids Pyridines and Picoliner via Vapor Phase Aldehyde-Ammonia Reactions Reactions of Xylene Diirocyanate Use of ~ i t r i i o t r i a c e t i c ACld in Detergents
7
None
25
Volume 53. Number 1. January 1976 1 57
