alterlab-zinc-db

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Access the ZINC database of 230M+ commercially available (purchasable) compounds, searching by ZINC ID or SMILES, running similarity searches, and downloading 3D-ready structures. Use when assembling a compound library for virtual screening, finding purchasable analogs, or obtaining docking-ready 3D structures for drug discovery. Part of the AlterLab Academic Skills suite.

AlterLab-IEU By AlterLab-IEU schedule Updated 6/9/2026
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name: alterlab-zinc-db description: Access the ZINC database of 230M+ commercially available (purchasable) compounds, searching by ZINC ID or SMILES, running similarity searches, and downloading 3D-ready structures. Use when assembling a compound library for virtual screening, finding purchasable analogs, or obtaining docking-ready 3D structures for drug discovery. Part of the AlterLab Academic Skills suite. license: MIT allowed-tools: Read WebFetch Bash(curl:) Bash(python:) compatibility: Keyless public ZINC database (no authentication required) metadata: skill-author: AlterLab version: "1.0.0"

ZINC Database

Overview

ZINC is a freely accessible repository of 230M+ purchasable compounds maintained by UCSF. Search by ZINC ID or SMILES, perform similarity searches, download 3D-ready structures for docking, discover analogs for virtual screening and drug discovery.

Scripts

scripts/query_zinc.py — query the ZINC22 CartBlanche API via form-encoded POST (stdlib only, JSON to stdout):

python scripts/query_zinc.py id ZINC000019632618          # ZINC-ID lookup
python scripts/query_zinc.py smiles "c1ccccc1" --dist 3   # SMILES similarity search
python scripts/query_zinc.py random --count 100 --subset lead-like   # random sample

Every CartBlanche search is asynchronous. Each call returns a JSON task handle ({"task": "<uuid>"}); the result rows are assembled server-side and rendered in the web UI at https://cartblanche22.docking.org. There is no plain-text polling endpoint — the task route serves the single-page app. Use the script to submit searches and obtain the task id, then open the UI to retrieve/export rows, or use the bulk file repository (below) for programmatic large-scale retrieval.

When to Use This Skill

This skill should be used when:

  • Virtual screening: Finding compounds for molecular docking studies
  • Lead discovery: Identifying commercially-available compounds for drug development
  • Structure searches: Performing similarity or analog searches by SMILES
  • Compound retrieval: Looking up molecules by ZINC IDs or supplier codes
  • Chemical space exploration: Exploring purchasable chemical diversity
  • Docking studies: Accessing 3D-ready molecular structures
  • Analog searches: Finding similar compounds based on structural similarity
  • Supplier queries: Identifying compounds from specific chemical vendors
  • Random sampling: Obtaining random compound sets for screening

Database Versions

ZINC has evolved through multiple versions:

  • ZINC22 (Current): Largest version with 230+ million purchasable compounds and multi-billion scale make-on-demand compounds
  • ZINC20: Still maintained, focused on lead-like and drug-like compounds
  • ZINC15: Predecessor version, legacy but still documented

This skill primarily focuses on ZINC22, the most current and comprehensive version.

Access Methods

Web Interface

Primary access point: https://zinc.docking.org/ Interactive searching: https://cartblanche22.docking.org/

API Access

All ZINC22 searches can be performed programmatically via the CartBlanche22 API:

Base URL: https://cartblanche22.docking.org/

Searches are submitted as form-encoded POST requests (the scripts/query_zinc.py helper does this) or as curl -F form-field uploads. Endpoints accept either an inline value or an @file upload, and every search returns a JSON task handle ({"task": "<uuid>"}) — results are then rendered in the web UI. Pass the desired columns via the output_fields form field.

The older "colon URL" form (/substances.txt:zinc_id=...) does not work against the current CartBlanche22 service; use form fields as shown below.

Core Capabilities

1. Search by ZINC ID

Retrieve specific compounds using their ZINC identifiers.

Web interface: https://cartblanche22.docking.org/search/zincid

API endpoint (form field is zinc_ids, plural — the singular zinc_id returns HTTP 400):

# Inline list of IDs
curl -X GET "https://cartblanche22.docking.org/substances.txt" \
  -F zinc_ids="ZINC000019632618,ZINC000000000001" \
  -F output_fields="zinc_id,smiles,catalogs"

# Or upload a file of IDs (one per line)
curl -X GET "https://cartblanche22.docking.org/substances.txt" \
  -F zinc_ids=@zinc_ids.txt \
  -F output_fields="zinc_id,smiles,tranche"

Both return a task handle; open the printed UI task URL to view rows.

Response fields: zinc_id, smiles, sub_id, supplier_code, catalogs, tranche (includes H-count, LogP, MW, phase)

2. Search by SMILES

Find compounds by chemical structure using SMILES notation, with optional distance parameters for analog searching.

Web interface: https://cartblanche22.docking.org/search/smiles

API endpoint:

curl -X GET "https://cartblanche22.docking.org/smiles.txt" \
  -F smiles="c1ccccc1" -F dist=3 -F adist=3 \
  -F output_fields="zinc_id,smiles,tranche"

Parameters (each passed as a -F form field):

  • smiles: Query SMILES string (inline, or @file for a batch of queries)
  • dist: Tanimoto distance threshold (default: 0 for exact match)
  • adist: Anonymous (graph-topology) distance for broader searches (default: 0)
  • output_fields: Comma-separated list of desired output fields

Example - Exact match (dist/adist default to 0):

curl -X GET "https://cartblanche22.docking.org/smiles.txt" -F smiles="c1ccccc1"

3. Search by Supplier Codes

Query compounds from specific chemical suppliers or retrieve all molecules from particular catalogs.

Web interface: https://cartblanche22.docking.org/search/catitems

API endpoint (form field is supplier_codes):

curl -X GET "https://cartblanche22.docking.org/catitems.txt" \
  -F supplier_codes="SUPPLIER-CODE-123" \
  -F output_fields="zinc_id,smiles,supplier_code,catalogs"

Use cases:

  • Verify compound availability from specific vendors
  • Retrieve all compounds from a catalog
  • Cross-reference supplier codes with ZINC IDs

4. Random Compound Sampling

Generate random compound sets for screening or benchmarking purposes.

Web interface: https://cartblanche22.docking.org/search/random

API endpoint:

curl "https://cartblanche22.docking.org/substance/random.txt" -F count=100

Parameters (each passed as a -F form field):

  • count: Number of random compounds to retrieve (default: 100)
  • subset: Filter by subset (e.g., 'lead-like', 'drug-like', 'fragment')
  • output_fields: Customize returned data fields

Example - Random lead-like molecules:

curl "https://cartblanche22.docking.org/substance/random.txt" \
  -F count=1000 -F subset="lead-like" -F output_fields="zinc_id,smiles,tranche"

Common Workflows

Workflow 1: Preparing a Docking Library

  1. Define search criteria based on target properties or desired chemical space

  2. Submit the search with the appropriate method:

    # Example: random drug-like compounds; returns a task handle for the web UI
python scripts/query_zinc.py random --count 10000 --subset drug-like \
  --fields zinc_id,smiles,tranche

  3. Retrieve and parse rows (export from the UI task view, or pull tranche files from the bulk repository) into a DataFrame and filter on tranche properties:

    import pandas as pd

df = pd.read_csv('docking_library.tsv', sep='\t')

# Tranche format: H##P###M###-phase
# H = H-bond donors, P = LogP*10, M = MW

  4. Download 3D structures for docking from the file repository (see below)

Workflow 2: Finding Analogs of a Hit Compound

  1. Obtain SMILES of the hit compound:

    hit_smiles = "CC(C)Cc1ccc(cc1)C(C)C(=O)O"  # Example: Ibuprofen

  2. Perform similarity search with a distance threshold:

    python scripts/query_zinc.py smiles "CC(C)Cc1ccc(cc1)C(C)C(=O)O" \
  --dist 5 --fields zinc_id,smiles,catalogs

  3. Analyze results to identify purchasable analogs (after exporting the task rows):

    import pandas as pd

analogs = pd.read_csv('analogs.tsv', sep='\t')
print(f"Found {len(analogs)} analogs")
print(analogs[['zinc_id', 'smiles', 'catalogs']].head(10))

  4. Retrieve 3D structures for the most promising analogs

Workflow 3: Batch Compound Retrieval

  1. Compile list of ZINC IDs from literature, databases, or previous screens:

    zinc_ids = [
    "ZINC000000000001",
    "ZINC000000000002",
    "ZINC000000000003"
]
zinc_ids_str = ",".join(zinc_ids)

  2. Query ZINC22 API (one batch request, zinc_ids plural):

    curl -X GET "https://cartblanche22.docking.org/substances.txt" \
  -F zinc_ids="ZINC000000000001,ZINC000000000002" \
  -F output_fields="zinc_id,smiles,supplier_code,catalogs"

  3. Process results for downstream analysis or purchasing

Workflow 4: Chemical Space Sampling

  1. Select subset parameters based on screening goals:

    • Fragment: MW < 250, good for fragment-based drug discovery
    • Lead-like: MW 250-350, LogP ≤ 3.5
    • Drug-like: MW 350-500, follows Lipinski's Rule of Five

  2. Generate random sample:

    python scripts/query_zinc.py random --count 5000 --subset lead-like \
  --fields zinc_id,smiles,tranche

  3. Analyze chemical diversity and prepare for virtual screening

Output Fields

Customize API responses with the output_fields parameter:

Available fields:

  • zinc_id: ZINC identifier
  • smiles: SMILES string representation
  • sub_id: Internal substance ID
  • supplier_code: Vendor catalog number
  • catalogs: List of suppliers offering the compound
  • tranche: Encoded molecular properties (H-count, LogP, MW, reactivity phase)

Example:

curl -X GET "https://cartblanche22.docking.org/substances.txt" \
  -F zinc_ids="ZINC000000000001" \
  -F output_fields="zinc_id,smiles,catalogs,tranche"

Tranche System

ZINC organizes compounds into "tranches" based on molecular properties:

Format: H##P###M###-phase

  • H##: Number of hydrogen bond donors (00-99)
  • P###: LogP × 10 (e.g., P035 = LogP 3.5)
  • M###: Molecular weight in Daltons (e.g., M400 = 400 Da)
  • phase: Reactivity classification

Example tranche: H05P035M400-0

  • 5 H-bond donors
  • LogP = 3.5
  • MW = 400 Da
  • Reactivity phase 0

Use tranche data to filter compounds by drug-likeness criteria.

Downloading 3D Structures

For molecular docking, 3D structures are available via file repositories:

File repository: https://files.docking.org/zinc22/

Structures are organized by tranches and available in multiple formats:

  • MOL2: Multi-molecule format with 3D coordinates
  • SDF: Structure-data file format
  • DB2.GZ: Compressed database format for DOCK

Refer to ZINC documentation at https://wiki.docking.org for downloading protocols and batch access methods.

Python Integration

Submitting searches

Use the bundled scripts/query_zinc.py (stdlib only) rather than hand-rolling URLs — it sends the correct form-encoded POST and returns the JSON task handle:

import json, subprocess

def submit(*args):
    """Run query_zinc.py and return the parsed JSON (task handle or rows)."""
    out = subprocess.run(
        ["python", "scripts/query_zinc.py", *args],
        capture_output=True, text=True, check=True,
    ).stdout
    return json.loads(out)

task = submit("id", "ZINC000019632618", "--fields", "zinc_id,smiles,catalogs")
# -> {"task": "<uuid>"}; open the UI task view to export rows

Parsing tranche codes

Once you have result rows (a tranche column, exported from the UI or read from the file repository), decode each code. The LogP segment can be negative (P-005), so the regex allows a leading sign:

import re

def parse_tranche(tranche_str):
    """Parse a ZINC tranche code, e.g. 'H05P035M400-0'."""
    match = re.match(r"H(\d+)P(-?\d+)M(\d+)-(\d+)", tranche_str)
    if not match:
        return None
    return {
        "h_donors": int(match.group(1)),
        "logp": int(match.group(2)) / 10.0,
        "mw": int(match.group(3)),
        "phase": int(match.group(4)),
    }

# df["tranche_props"] = df["tranche"].apply(parse_tranche)

Best Practices

Query Optimization

  • Start specific: Begin with exact searches before expanding to similarity searches
  • Use appropriate distance parameters: Small dist values (1-3) for close analogs, larger (5-10) for diverse analogs
  • Limit output fields: Request only necessary fields to reduce data transfer
  • Batch queries: Combine multiple ZINC IDs in a single API call when possible

Performance Considerations

  • Rate limiting: Respect server resources; avoid rapid consecutive requests
  • Caching: Store frequently accessed compounds locally
  • Parallel downloads: When downloading 3D structures, use parallel wget or aria2c for file repositories
  • Subset filtering: Use lead-like, drug-like, or fragment subsets to reduce search space

Data Quality

  • Verify availability: Supplier catalogs change; confirm compound availability before large orders
  • Check stereochemistry: SMILES may not fully specify stereochemistry; verify 3D structures
  • Validate structures: Use cheminformatics tools (RDKit, OpenBabel) to verify structure validity
  • Cross-reference: When possible, cross-check with other databases (PubChem, ChEMBL)

Resources

references/api_reference.md

Comprehensive documentation including:

  • Complete API endpoint reference
  • URL syntax and parameter specifications
  • Advanced query patterns and examples
  • File repository organization and access
  • Bulk download methods
  • Error handling and troubleshooting
  • Integration with molecular docking software

Consult this document for detailed technical information and advanced usage patterns.

Important Disclaimers

Data Reliability

ZINC explicitly states: "We do not guarantee the quality of any molecule for any purpose and take no responsibility for errors arising from the use of this database."

  • Compound availability may change without notice
  • Structure representations may contain errors
  • Supplier information should be verified independently
  • Use appropriate validation before experimental work

Appropriate Use

  • ZINC is intended for academic and research purposes in drug discovery
  • Verify licensing terms for commercial use
  • Respect intellectual property when working with patented compounds
  • Follow your institution's guidelines for compound procurement

Additional Resources

Citations

When using ZINC in publications, cite the appropriate version:

ZINC22: Tingle, B. I.; Tang, K. G.; Castanon, M.; Gutierrez, J. J.; Khurelbaatar, M.; Dandarchuluun, C.; Moroz, Y. S.; Irwin, J. J. "ZINC-22─A Free Multi-Billion-Scale Database of Tangible Compounds for Ligand Discovery." Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling 2023, 63(4), 1166–1176. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01253.

ZINC20: Irwin, J. J.; Tang, K. G.; Young, J.; et al. "ZINC20—A Free Ultralarge-Scale Chemical Database for Ligand Discovery." Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling 2020, 60(12), 6065–6073. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c00675.

ZINC15: Sterling, T.; Irwin, J. J. "ZINC 15 – Ligand Discovery for Everyone." Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling 2015, 55, 2324–2337. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5b00559.

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