Chemical Communications

Chemical Communications. Often abbreviated as Chem. Commun., it is a prominent scientific journal published by the Royal Society of Chemistry focusing on the rapid dissemination of significant research communications across all branches of chemistry. Established in 1965, it has become a premier venue for announcing novel, urgent findings in organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, materials science, and biological chemistry. The journal is renowned for its stringent peer-review process and high publication standards, attracting submissions from leading research institutions worldwide, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, and Max Planck Society.

History and development

The journal was launched in 1965 by the Chemical Society, a precursor to the Royal Society of Chemistry, during a period of rapid expansion in chemical research following pivotal events like the Space Race and advancements in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Its creation was driven by the need for a dedicated channel to swiftly publish preliminary accounts of groundbreaking work, a model influenced by other rapid-communication journals like Tetrahedron Letters. Early editorial boards featured distinguished chemists such as Sir John Cornforth and George Porter, who helped establish its rigorous standards. A significant milestone occurred in 1972 with the merger of the Chemical Society and the Royal Institute of Chemistry, consolidating its publisher under the Royal Society of Chemistry. The journal has continually adapted, introducing digital publication in the 1990s and adopting online submission systems like ScholarOne Manuscripts, paralleling technological shifts seen in journals such as Angewandte Chemie and Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Scope and content

The journal publishes concise communications, typically four pages in length, covering urgent developments across the entire chemical sciences. Primary research areas include novel synthetic methodologies in organic synthesis, discoveries in coordination chemistry, advances in nanotechnology and supramolecular chemistry, and interdisciplinary work bridging chemical biology and medicinal chemistry. It also features emerging topics like metal-organic frameworks, catalysis for green chemistry, and photovoltaic materials. Each communication must report original, compelling research with immediate interest to the international community, often preceding more detailed articles in journals like Dalton Transactions or Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry. Special themed issues occasionally highlight fields such as artificial photosynthesis or chemical sensing, and the journal includes content types like hot papers and feature articles.

Editorial process and peer review

The editorial process is overseen by an Editor-in-Chief, currently Richard G. Compton of the University of Oxford, supported by an international board of Associate Editors from institutions like Stanford University, ETH Zurich, and University of Tokyo. Manuscripts submitted via the Royal Society of Chemistry's online system undergo an initial screening for scope and novelty before being sent for single-blind peer review by experts in fields such as polymer science or electrochemistry. The review criteria emphasize scientific rigor, urgency, and broad appeal, with decisions typically made within a few weeks to maintain rapid publication timelines. This model ensures the journal competes effectively with other rapid-publication outlets like Chemical Science and ACS Nano, while upholding the reputation of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Abstracting and indexing

The journal is comprehensively abstracted and indexed in major scientific databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility for researchers. Key indexing services include the Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus, and PubMed, which facilitate citation tracking and impact analysis. It is also covered by Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), MEDLINE, and EI Compendex, aligning its reach with that of premier journals like Nature Chemistry and Journal of Materials Chemistry. This broad indexing supports its inclusion in evaluations by organizations such as the Australian Research Council and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and contributes to its Impact Factor calculations by Clarivate Analytics.

Impact and reception

Chemical Communications is widely regarded as a high-impact journal within the global chemistry community, with a 2022 Impact Factor of 4.9 as reported by the Journal Citation Reports. It is frequently cited in landmark papers from institutions like California Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley, and has published pioneering work by Nobel laureates including Ryoji Noyori and Jean-Pierre Sauvage. The journal's rapid dissemination model has influenced research directions in areas from catalysis to drug discovery, and it is often used as a benchmark for academic promotion by universities worldwide. While it faces competition from journals like ACS Central Science and Nature Communications, its association with the Royal Society of Chemistry and consistent quality maintain its prestigious status, reflected in awards such as the ACS Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry often referencing its publications.

Category:Chemistry journals Category:Royal Society of Chemistry academic journals Category:Publications established in 1965