ChemSketch: Drawing Molecules with Open (Terminal) Bonds in Polymer Notation

Description

Polymer structures are often represented with “open” ends (no explicit terminal group label), to indicate repeating units. In ChemSketch, you can simulate this by hiding terminal labels on specific atoms or on all termini in the structure.

Solution

The easiest way to accomplish this is to simply turn off the label display through the Properties dialog box.

With a ChemSketch structure displayed:

1. Switch to Structure mode.
2. Click Select/Move .
3. Double-click the CH3 group to be hidden.
4. In the Properties dialog box that appears, click the Atom tab.
5. Click on the small C icon (under the box with the CH3 label in it).
6. Deselect the Show checkbox.
7. Click Apply and close the dialog box.

The second method turns off labeling for all termini currently drawn on the structure.

1. Switch to Structure mode.
2. Click Select/Move .
3. Select the entire structure by double-clicking near it.
4. Double-click to open the Properties dialog box.
5. On the Common tab, deselect the Terminal checkbox.
6. Click Apply and close the dialog box.