Angewandte Chemie vs Scientific Reports: Broad Chemistry vs Inclusive Multidisciplinary

Angewandte Chemie and Scientific Reports both publish chemistry. But they're aiming at different audiences and different kinds of contributions.

For organic and synthetic chemists, this choice is important. Getting it right means publication at the appropriate tier. Getting it wrong means wasted time.

Head-to-Head Comparison

The IF gap (16.9 vs 3.9) and acceptance rate gap (15-25% vs 57%) reflect fundamental differences in selectivity.

What Angewandte Wants

Angewandte Chemie publishes chemistry that advances the field through either novel reactivity or elegant mechanistic understanding.

This means:

• Mechanistic novelty (new reaction types, new catalytic cycles, surprising reactivity patterns)
• Mechanism deeply understood (NMR of intermediates, kinetics, validated computational models explaining the chemistry)
• Substrate scope shows understanding (diverse substrates with mechanistic explanation of limitations, not just empirical optimization)
• Practical utility implied (this reaction will be useful to organic chemists)
• Elegant execution (clean reactions, high yields, scalable conditions)

A paper can have solid methodology and still get desk rejected if the novelty is insufficient. Angewandte editors screen for chemistry that chemists will talk about.

What Scientific Reports Wants

Scientific Reports cares about methodology. Is the reaction reproducible? Are conditions clearly described? Are characterization data complete?

Novelty is irrelevant. An established reaction optimized on new substrates, if done carefully, is publishable. An application of a known catalytic system to a new problem, if methodologically rigorous, is publishable.

The bar is rigor, not significance.

The Novelty Filter

Here's a practical test: Would a room full of synthetic chemists consider your finding a "breakthrough" or "interesting"?

If yes, Angewandte is worth trying. Expect a 75-85% desk rejection rate, but breakthroughs that make it to review usually get accepted.

If no, if it's solid chemistry but incremental, Scientific Reports is appropriate.

Examples:

Angewandte-appropriate:

• A new C-H functionalization that enables previously impossible transformations
• A catalytic asymmetric reaction opening new synthetic routes
• A mechanistic discovery explaining unexpected reactivity

Scientific Reports-appropriate:

• An established reaction optimized for green chemistry or sustainability
• Application of a known catalytic system to a new substrate class
• Comprehensive characterization of a reaction you've spent time optimizing
• A useful synthetic intermediate or route to a known target

Speed vs. Acceptance

Angewandte is fast (2-6 weeks first decision) but highly selective.

Scientific Reports is slow (120 days) but more accepting.

For a novel, well-executed paper, Angewandte's speed is genuine. For a paper lacking mechanistic novelty, Angewandte will desk reject in a week, then you're submitting to Scientific Reports anyway.

Don't choose based on speed if it compromises the journal fit.

Short Communication vs. Full Article

Angewandte offers two formats:

Short Communication (4 pages): For a single elegant finding, breakthrough reaction, or mechanistic insight. Faster publication, broader impact, more prestigious. But requires that your contribution is sharply focused.

Full Article (20-30 pages): For comprehensive mechanistic studies, broad substrate scope studies, or complex investigations. Allows room for detail.

If you have one great result, Short Communication.

If you have a story with multiple facets and extensive mechanistic investigation, Full Article.

This choice matters for Angewandte more than other journals. A Short Communication gets wider attention and faster publication.

Mechanism Requirement at Angewandte

This is non-negotiable. Angewandte reviewers expect mechanistic understanding.

"We developed a new catalytic system" is insufficient.

"Here's the catalytic cycle, here's how we validated it, here's why the catalysis works" is expected.

This means:

• Identification of catalytic intermediates (NMR, ESI-MS, isolation if possible)
• Kinetic measurements confirming the proposed cycle
• Computational modeling of the transition state or key steps
• Experimental validation of mechanistic proposals (selective inhibition, isotope labeling, etc.)

Without this, Angewandte will desk reject. Scientific Reports won't.

Cost Considerations

Angewandte: Open access option available, but not mandatory. You can publish subscription-based.

Scientific Reports: $2,490 mandatory open access (unless Springer Nature institutional agreement covers it).

If cost matters and you don't have a Wiley-VCH deal, Angewandte has the advantage.

Strategic Decision

Submit to Angewandte if:

• Your chemistry is mechanistically novel (new reaction type, new mechanism, new catalytic mode)
• You have deep mechanistic understanding (intermediates, kinetics, computation)
• The substrate scope demonstrates understanding of limitations
• You have time to wait out the peer review if it gets sent for review

Go to Scientific Reports if:

• Your chemistry is solid but incremental
• Novelty is marginal or narrow in scope
• Your strength is methodological execution rather than mechanistic insight
• You want a faster, more predictable path to publication

If Angewandte Desk Rejects You

High likelihood (40-50% desk rejection rate). Common reasons:

• Insufficient novelty
• Mechanism not deeply investigated
• Narrow substrate scope without mechanistic explanation
• Applying a known method without clear advantage

Before submitting to Scientific Reports, honestly assess: Is the limitation real science limitation, or editorial perception?

If Angewandte said "this is incremental," and you agree, Scientific Reports is appropriate. If you disagree and believe there's genuine novelty, consider redesigning the story or additional experiments.

Bottom Line

Angewandte Chemie and Scientific Reports are both legitimate journals. Angewandte is selective chemistry. Scientific Reports is inclusive multidisciplinary science. Know which your paper fits, and submit accordingly.

If you're borderline on novelty, the border itself is the answer. Go with Scientific Reports.

Related Reading

• Angewandte Chemie submission guide
• JACS vs Angewandte Chemie comparison
• Chemistry journal landscape for organic chemists