User guide

Basic drawings
ChemBioDraw 13.0 provides a variety of tools for drawing everything from simple chemical structures to complex
reactions. In this section, we introduce basic techniques to help you create your first structures. We also explain how
to add features such as arrows and shapes to enhance structures and reactions. For more drawing features, see
"BioDraw" on page 51 and "Advanced drawing techniques" on page 95.
Bonds
The Main toolbar and Multiple Bonds toolbar offer numerous options for drawing bonds. Some tools are for drawing
specific types of bonds while others are for drawing structures for database queries. For more information on different
bond types, see "Bond conventions" on page 289.
Drawing bonds
To draw the first bond of your structure, select the solid bond tool in the Main toolbar and click in the document win-
dow. To draw another bond attached to the first, click either end of the first bond.
You can draw a bond in any direction. Using a bond tool, click and drag from an existing atom or an empty area in the
document window. The bond is drawn in the direction you drag the cursor.
Double bonds
There are four ways to draw a double bond:
Draw a bond using the Double bond tool.
Draw a single bond over an existing single bond.
Using any bond or selection tool, point to an existing bond and type ‘2’. See "Shortcuts and hotkeys" on page 304.
Right-click any bond and select Double>Plain in the context menu.
Double either bonds
Double either bonds or crossed double bonds are used to indicate unspecified double bond configuration or a mixture
of configurations. To draw a double either bond, use the double either bond tool from the Multiple Bonds toolbar or:
1. Draw a bond using the Wavy Bond tool.
2. Click the center of the bond to create a double bond.
3. Click again to create a double either bond.
Triple bonds
There are three ways to draw a triple bond:
Draw a bond using the Triple Bond tool.
Using the Solid, Dashed, or Bold Bond tool, drag from one end of an existing double bond to the other end.
Using any bond or selection tool, point to an existing bond and type ‘3’.
ChemBioDraw 13.0
Chapter 3: Basic drawings 12 of 401