Top Toolbar
New — Clear the canvas and start a fresh document.
Open — Open a molecule from a file (MOL, SDF, KET, etc.).
Save — Save the current structure to a file.
Undo — Revert the last drawing action.
Redo — Re-apply an undone action.
Left Toolbar — Selection & Drawing
Hand — Pan the canvas by clicking and dragging.
Lasso — Freeform selection: drag to select atoms and bonds.
Rectangle — Rectangular selection: drag a box to select atoms and bonds.
Fragment — Select an entire connected fragment with one click.
Erase — Click atoms or bonds to delete them.
Left Toolbar — Bonds
Single — Draw a single bond between atoms.
Double — Draw a double bond between atoms.
Triple — Draw a triple bond between atoms.
Wedge — Bond pointing above the plane (stereochemistry).
Dashed wedge — Bond pointing below the plane.
Chain — Draw a carbon chain by dragging.
Left Toolbar — Charges, Shapes & Annotations
+ Charge + — Add a positive charge to the clicked atom.
− Charge − — Add a negative charge to the clicked atom.
Arrow — Draw a reaction arrow on the canvas.
R R-Group — Label atoms as R-group attachment points (R1, R2, etc.).
S S-Group — Group atoms into an S-group (abbreviation, polymer bracket, etc.).
Text — Add a text annotation to the canvas.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Ctrl+Z Undo the last action.
Ctrl+Y Redo the last undone action.
Ctrl+A Select all atoms and bonds.
Ctrl+C Copy the selected structure.
Ctrl+V Paste a previously copied structure.
Del Delete the currently selected atoms and bonds.
Esc Cancel the current tool or deselect.
For a full reference of all Ketcher tools and features, see the complete Ketcher documentation.