Restructuring Activities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Jul. 26, 2013 July 2013 Restructuring Plan	Dec. 31, 2013 Severance and Related Costs	Jul. 26, 2013 Severance and Related Costs July 2013 Restructuring Plan	Dec. 31, 2013 Severance and Related Costs July 2013 Restructuring Plan	Jul. 31, 2010 Severance and Related Costs Symyx Merger Employee	Dec. 31, 2013 Severance and Related Costs Symyx Merger	Dec. 31, 2011 Severance and Related Costs Symyx Merger	Dec. 31, 2010 Severance and Related Costs Symyx Merger	Dec. 31, 2013 Lease Obligation Exit and Facility Closure Costs	Dec. 31, 2013 Lease Obligation Exit and Facility Closure Costs Prior to Symyx Merger Restructuring Plans	Dec. 31, 2013 Lease Obligation Exit and Facility Closure Costs Prior to 2007 Restructuring Plans	Jul. 26, 2013 U.S. Severance and Related Costs July 2013 Restructuring Plan Employee	Dec. 31, 2013 Scenario, Forecast Severance and Related Costs July 2013 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2012	$ 691,000		$ 65,000							$ 626,000	$ 100,000	$ 400,000
Additional severance and lease abandonment charges	3,031,000		2,287,000							700,000
Adjustments to liability	(180,000)		0							(180,000)
Cash payments	(2,079,000)		(1,619,000)		(1,600,000)		(5,200,000)			(460,000)
Effect of foreign exchange	(1,000)		(9,000)							8,000
Balance at December 31, 2013	1,822,000		724,000				35,000			1,098,000	100,000	400,000
Reduction in work force						80							80
Percentage of restructured workforce		12.00%
Total expected charges				2,400,000										100,000
Restructuring cost					2,300,000			5,300,000
Remaining balance expected to be paid					700,000
Remaining lease obligations										600,000
Severance charges incurred								$ 800,000	$ 4,500,000