# ChemDraw MCP (unofficial)

Turns molecule names and SMILES into 2D structures, reaction schemes, and comparisons. Rendering runs locally with RDKit.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 24
- Author: jurimaxam-dotcom
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/jurimaxam-dotcom/chemdraw-mcp
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/chemdraw-mcp-unofficial

## What it does

ChemDraw MCP (unofficial) resolves molecule names, IUPAC names, and SMILES, then produces 2D chemical structures. It can place molecules side by side, mark structural differences, render reaction schemes, and show a PubChem data sheet with GHS safety details. PNG and SVG output are supported, with optional CDXML export.

Name resolution uses OPSIN, PubChem, and NCI, while rendering happens locally through RDKit. No API key or ChemDraw licence is required. The Claude Code setup calls `uvx`, so that command must be available before the server can start this way.

## Requirements
- Needs: Python and uv (commands run via uvx)

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add chemdraw-mcp -- uvx chemdraw-mcp
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from chemdraw-mcp <command>

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add chemdraw-mcp-unofficial -- uvx chemdraw-mcp
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from chemdraw-mcp <command>

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "chemdraw-mcp-unofficial": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "chemdraw-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from chemdraw-mcp <command>

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "chemdraw-mcp-unofficial": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "chemdraw-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from chemdraw-mcp <command>

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add chemdraw-mcp-unofficial uvx chemdraw-mcp
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from chemdraw-mcp <command>

## When to use it
- turn a molecule name or SMILES string into a 2D structure
- compare compounds and highlight their structural differences
- render a reaction scheme with conditions above the arrow
- show PubChem properties and GHS safety details

## Example prompts
- Draw the 2D structure of aspirin and export it as a PNG.
- Compare ibuprofen with naproxen and highlight the differences.
- Render ethanol reacting with acetic acid to form ethyl acetate and water.

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