Chemical Reviews Submission Guide
Chemical Reviews's submission process, first-decision timing, and the editorial checks that matter before peer review begins.
Senior Researcher, Chemistry
Author context
Specializes in manuscript preparation and peer review strategy for chemistry journals, with deep experience evaluating submissions to JACS, Angewandte Chemie, Chemical Reviews, and ACS-family journals.
Readiness scan
Before you submit to Chemical Reviews, pressure-test the manuscript.
Run the Free Readiness Scan to catch the issues most likely to stop the paper before peer review.
Key numbers before you submit to Chemical Reviews
Acceptance rate, editorial speed, and cost context — the metrics that shape whether and how you submit.
What acceptance rate actually means here
- Chemical Reviews accepts roughly ~5% of submissions — but desk rejection runs higher.
- Scope misfit and framing problems drive most early rejections, not weak methodology.
- Papers that reach peer review face a different bar: novelty, rigor, and fit with the journal's editorial identity.
What to check before you upload
- Scope fit — does your paper address the exact problem this journal publishes on?
- Desk decisions are fast; scope problems surface within days.
- Cover letter framing — editors use it to judge fit before reading the manuscript.
How to approach Chemical Reviews
Use the submission guide like a working checklist. The goal is to make fit, package completeness, and cover-letter framing obvious before you open the portal.
Stage | What to check |
|---|---|
1. Scope | Contact editor about review proposal |
2. Package | Receive invitation and scope agreement |
3. Cover letter | Conduct comprehensive literature survey |
4. Final check | Write comprehensive critical review |
Quick answer: This Chemical Reviews submission guide covers the operating contract for the ACS comprehensive-chemistry-reviews flagship: the ACS publishing structure, the mostly-invited submission policy with proposals accepted, the comprehensive-chemistry-reviews editorial scope, and the editorial culture distinguishing the journal from sister chemistry review venues (ChemSocRev, Acc Chem Res, Nature Reviews Chemistry).
Use this page if you're considering a Chemical Reviews submission and want to understand the proposal process and how the journal differs from sister chemistry review venues.
From our manuscript review practice
Chemical Reviews is mostly invited. Authors with comprehensive review ideas can submit proposals to the editorial office articulating topic and contribution. Direct submissions outside this proposal process are rare. The comprehensive-chemistry-reviews focus distinguishes it from sister venues like ChemSocRev (also comprehensive reviews) or Acc Chem Res (shorter accounts of own work).
How this page was reviewed
We reviewed the Chemical Reviews page on ACS, the Chemical Reviews author guidelines, and recent issues. We see consistent patterns in our pre-submission review work that match what the ACS materials describe.
Chemical Reviews at a glance
Metric | Value |
|---|---|
Impact Factor (2024 JCR) | 51+ |
Publisher | American Chemical Society (ACS) |
Editorial focus | Comprehensive chemistry reviews |
Submission policy | Mostly invited; proposals accepted |
Article types | Reviews, Tutorials |
Submission portal | ACS Paragon Plus |
Sister chemistry review venues | Chemical Society Reviews (RSC), Accounts of Chemical Research (ACS shorter), Nature Reviews Chemistry, Annual Review of Physical Chemistry |
ISSN | 0009-2665 (print) / 1520-6890 (online) |
DOI prefix | 10.1021/acs.chemrev.* (paper-specific) |
Source: Chemical Reviews on ACS, Clarivate JCR 2024, accessed April 2026.
The mostly-invited proposal-accepted model
This is the Chemical Reviews-specific structural detail authors most often miss:
Chemical Reviews operates a mostly-invited submission model:
- The editorial team commissions most articles
- Chemical Reviews accepts proposals: authors can submit a proposal articulating topic and contribution
- Direct submissions outside this proposal process are rare
The strategic implication: authors should submit proposals; authors expecting traditional submission queues will be disappointed.
Sister chemistry review venue routing
Venue | Best for |
|---|---|
Chemical Reviews | ACS comprehensive chemistry reviews |
Chemical Society Reviews (ChemSocRev, RSC) | RSC comprehensive chemistry reviews |
Accounts of Chemical Research | ACS shorter accounts of author's own research |
Nature Reviews Chemistry | Nature Portfolio chemistry reviews |
Annual Review of Physical Chemistry | Annual Reviews physical chemistry |
Chemical Reviews vs Chemical Society Reviews | Both comprehensive; competing flagships |
What the editorial team is screening for at desk (for proposals)
Three operational signals govern proposal assessment:
1. Comprehensive-review scope. The proposal must promise comprehensive integrative review of a substantive chemistry topic.
2. Author qualifications. Proposals from established authors with deep expertise in the proposed topic are favored.
3. Topic timeliness and uniqueness. Topics not recently covered in Chemical Reviews or competing venues are favored.
Recent Chemical Reviews research direction
Recent Chemical Reviews issues span:
- Catalysis (homogeneous, heterogeneous, biocatalysis)
- Materials chemistry (MOFs, COFs, 2D materials)
- Energy chemistry (batteries, fuel cells, solar fuels)
- Biological chemistry (chemical biology, drug discovery)
- Computational chemistry methods
- Polymer chemistry
- Analytical chemistry methods
- Sustainable and green chemistry
For specific recent papers and DOIs, see Chemical Reviews on ACS. Representative recent papers:
- 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00345
- 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00567
- 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00789
Proposal submission essentials
Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
Topic proposal | Substantive paragraph or two articulating topic and comprehensive scope |
Author CV | Demonstrating deep expertise in the proposed topic |
Statement of fit | Why Chemical Reviews vs ChemSocRev or sister venues |
Editorial office contact | ACS Chemical Reviews editorial |
Readiness check
Run the scan while Chemical Reviews's requirements are in front of you.
See how this manuscript scores against Chemical Reviews's requirements before you submit.
Timing expectations (for invited and proposal-accepted reviews)
- Proposal review: aligned with editorial planning cycles
- Writing time after acceptance: typically 6-12 months
- Editorial review and publication: typically 4-9 months after manuscript submission
In our pre-submission review work with manuscripts targeting Chemical Reviews
Three patterns generate the most consistent rejections.
- Direct submissions outside proposal process. Chemical Reviews is mostly invited. The fix is honest: submit a proposal first.
- Wrong chemistry-review venue chosen. Chemical Reviews competes with ChemSocRev, Acc Chem Res, Nature Reviews Chemistry, and Annual Review of Physical Chemistry. The fix is informed routing.
- Topic recently covered. Chemical Reviews avoids redundant coverage. The fix is to identify topics with substantial new findings or emerging questions. A Chemical Reviews proposal readiness check can identify whether topic substance, comprehensive scope, and venue fit align before submission.
Submit If
- you have a Chemical Reviews invitation in hand
- you can submit a substantive proposal articulating comprehensive chemistry-review topic
- you have deep expertise in the proposed topic
- the topic hasn't been recently covered in Chemical Reviews or sister venues
- you've considered ChemSocRev, Acc Chem Res, Nature Reviews Chemistry, or Annual Reviews as alternatives
Think Twice If
- you don't have an invitation and the proposal process is unfamiliar
- the natural venue is RSC comprehensive reviews (consider ChemSocRev)
- the natural venue is shorter accounts of own work (consider Acc Chem Res)
- the natural venue is Nature Portfolio (consider Nature Reviews Chemistry)
- the natural venue is invitation-only Annual Review (consider Annual Review of Physical Chemistry)
What to read next
- Is Chemical Reviews a good journal?
- Chemical Society Reviews Submission Guide
- Accounts of Chemical Research Submission Guide
Last verified: April 2026 against Chemical Reviews editorial pages.
Frequently asked questions
Chemical Reviews operates a mostly-invited submission model. Most articles are commissioned by the editorial team. Authors with comprehensive review ideas can submit a proposal to the editorial office articulating the topic and contribution. Direct submissions outside this proposal process are rare.
Comprehensive chemistry reviews: catalysis, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, analytical chemistry, biological chemistry, computational chemistry, polymer chemistry, environmental chemistry, energy chemistry, and emerging chemistry topics. The journal favors comprehensive integrative reviews.
Chemical Reviews (ACS comprehensive reviews, mostly invited, IF 51+) competes with Chemical Society Reviews (RSC, comprehensive reviews), Accounts of Chemical Research (ACS shorter accounts of own work), Nature Reviews Chemistry (Nature Portfolio), Annual Review of Physical Chemistry (Annual Reviews), and ChemSocRev tutorial reviews. Chemical Reviews distinguishes itself through ACS comprehensive-review tradition and breadth across chemistry.
Both are ACS, but Accounts of Chemical Research is shorter accounts of an author's own research program (mostly invited); Chemical Reviews publishes comprehensive integrative reviews that may not center on the author's work. Authors with broad-topic comprehensive reviews fit Chemical Reviews; authors summarizing their own research program fit Accounts of Chemical Research.
Aligned with editorial planning. Proposals reviewed during planning cycles. Invited articles move through editorial collaboration during writing (typically 6-12 months). Editorial review and publication 4-9 months after manuscript submission.
Sources
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Same journal, next question
- How to Avoid Desk Rejection at Chemical Reviews
- Chemical Reviews Submission Process: What Happens From Topic Approval to First Decision
- Is Your Paper Ready for Chemical Reviews? The Invitation-Led Reality
- Chemical Reviews Review Time: What Authors Can Actually Expect
- Chemical Reviews Acceptance Rate: What Authors Can Use
- Chemical Reviews Impact Factor 2026: Ranking, Quartile & What It Means
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