What is the Chem. Commun. JIF?

The JIF is 4.2 (2024 JCR). See the full year-by-year trend and category ranking in our Chemical Communications JIF analysis.

What is the acceptance rate of Chemical Communications?

Manusights currently treats ~20-30% as an estimate for Chemical Communications, not an official journal-published rate. One common reason papers fail is routine chemistry without significant novelty or impact.

How long does Chem. Commun. take to review?

Chemical Communications typically takes ~90-120 days median, but timing varies by editor, field, and reviewer availability. Expect an editorial screen first, then manuscript preparation, then peer review.

Is Chemical Communications peer reviewed?

Yes, Chemical Communications is fully peer reviewed. All submissions undergo rigorous peer review by 2-3 chemistry experts assess novelty, experimental rigor, significance, and generalizability. First decision 90-120 days..

All Journal Guides

Journal Guide

Publishing in Chemical Communications: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide

Q: Is Chemical Communications a good journal?

Chemical Communications is a strong target if present chemistry representing genuine advance. It is a weaker fit if chemComm expects breakthrough chemistry.

Significant chemical breakthroughs: synthesis, materials, and discovery

Should you submit here?

Submit if present chemistry representing genuine advance. Be careful if chemComm expects breakthrough chemistry.

IF 4.2 · ~20-30% accepted · ~90-120 days median

Best fit if

Present chemistry representing genuine advance

Not ideal if

ChemComm expects breakthrough chemistry

Also compare

Natureand JACS

4.2

Impact Factor (2024)

~20-30%

Acceptance Rate

~90-120 days median

Time to First Decision

Submission guide

Chemical Communications Submission Guide: RSC Requirements & Tips

Complete Chemical Communications submission guide: RSC portal steps, formatting requirements, cover letter tips, and what editors actually want.

Journal assessment

Is Chemical Communications a Good Journal? Impact Factor, Comparison, and Fit Verdict

Chemical Communications fit verdict with key metrics, comparison to JACS and Angewandte, and practical guidance for concise chemistry results.

Desk rejection

How to Avoid Desk Rejection at Chemical Communications

How to avoid desk rejection at Chemical Communications: what editors expect in novelty, mechanistic support, and concise impact.

What Chem. Commun. Publishes

Chemical Communications published by the Royal Society of Chemistry is a premier journal for high-impact chemical research. With JIF 4.2 and Q1 ranking in Chemistry, ChemComm emphasizes significant chemical discoveries and breakthroughs. The journal publishes short, impactful papers on synthesis, materials, catalysis, and chemical discovery. Critically: ChemComm values novelty and impact. Routine chemical work lacks competitiveness. The journal seeks papers making significant contributions advancing chemistry.

Organic synthesis: novel reactions, selective transformations, synthetic methods
Materials chemistry: novel materials, unique properties, functional materials
Catalysis: efficient catalysts, green catalysis, novel catalytic mechanisms
Supramolecular chemistry: self-assembly, molecular recognition, host-guest
Chemical biology: bioactive compounds, protein chemistry, cellular chemistry
Coordination chemistry: novel complexes, coordination polymers, metal compounds
Green chemistry: sustainable processes, waste reduction, benign conditions
Computational chemistry: theoretical predictions, mechanistic insights

Editor Insight

“Chemical Communications publishes significant chemical breakthroughs. We seek chemistry making genuine contributions to the field. The best papers combine novelty with rigorous execution, clear presentation, and broader significance.”

What Chem. Commun. Editors Look For

Significant chemical breakthrough or novel compound with exceptional properties

Present chemistry representing genuine advance. New reaction enabling previously impossible synthesis? Material with unprecedented properties? Novel mechanism fundamentally changing understanding? Show clear significance.

Rigorous experimental characterization and reproducibility

Provide complete characterization: NMR, MS, IR, crystallography as appropriate. Sufficient detail for reproduction. Sloppy chemistry or incomplete characterization unacceptable.

Novelty clearly distinguished from prior art

Explicitly differentiate work from literature. What's genuinely new? Is reaction mechanism different? Are properties unprecedented? Clear novelty statement essential.

Broader significance or impact beyond specific system

Show how chemistry advances field broadly. Is new synthetic method general? Are material properties inspiring new designs? Does mechanistic insight apply to other systems?

Elegant presentation and clear communication of chemistry

ChemComm values clarity and presentation. Figures showing chemistry clearly. Mechanisms explained simply. Communication quality matters.

Why Papers Get Rejected

These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Chem. Commun.'s editorial review:

Routine chemistry without significant novelty or impact

ChemComm expects breakthrough chemistry. Variations on known reactions or incremental improvements lack novelty. Novel reactions, unprecedented properties, or fundamental insights required.

Incomplete characterization or synthesis details

ChemComm expects rigorous characterization. Incomplete NMR, missing MS data, or vague synthesis details suggest careless work.

No discussion of broader significance or generalizability

Papers showing isolated examples lack impact. Demonstrate generality: works with other substrates? Applicable to other systems? Broader significance matters.

Poor presentation or unclear communication of chemistry

ChemComm readers expect clear presentation. Confusing schemes, unclear mechanisms, or poor figure quality reduce impact.

Overclaiming novelty or significance

Exaggerating importance damages credibility. Be honest about contribution scale and limitations. Accurate positioning builds trust.

Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?

The Free Readiness Scan reads your full manuscript against Chem. Commun.'s criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.

Run Free Readiness Scan →

Insider Tips from Chem. Commun. Authors

Novel synthetic methods with broad substrate scope highly valued

New reactions enabling multiple substrates or showing unexpected selectivity are highly competitive.

Materials with unusual properties attract strong interest

Materials showing unexpected optical, magnetic, or electronic properties often receive strong reception.

Green chemistry and sustainable methods increasingly emphasized

Reactions using benign conditions, renewable reagents, or catalytic approaches align with RSC priorities.

Mechanistic insights into known reactions valued

Revealing mechanisms of important reactions through detailed studies and computation can impact practice.

Chemical biology papers bridging chemistry and biology increasingly competitive

Work at chemistry-biology interface (bioactive compounds, protein chemistry, cell chemistry) trending upward.

The Chem. Commun. Submission Process

Manuscript preparation

Prep

Up to 3,000 words with 4-6 figures. Include chemistry, characterization data, mechanistic discussion, generalizability, and broader significance. Complete supporting information with full experimental procedures and characterization spectra.

Submission via RSC system

Day 0

Submit at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/rsc. Required: manuscript within word limit, clear figures showing chemistry, cover letter emphasizing novelty and significance.

Editorial assessment

1-2 weeks

Editor assesses novelty and significance. Papers lacking clear breakthrough chemistry or broader impact face rejection. Selective desk rejection ~40-50%.

Peer review

90-120 days

2-3 chemistry experts assess novelty, experimental rigor, significance, and generalizability. First decision 90-120 days.

Revision and publication

Revision: 2-4 weeks

Revisions often minor if accepted. Publication 1-2 weeks after acceptance.

Chem. Commun. by the Numbers

2024 Impact Factor	9.6
5-Year Impact Factor	10.1
Acceptance rate	~20-30%
Desk rejection rate	~40-50%
Median first decision	~105 days
Open access option	$3,100 GBP
Publisher	Royal Society of Chemistry
Founded	1996

Before you submit

Chem. Commun. accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.

Start with the Free Readiness Scan. Unlock the Full AI Diagnostic for $29. If you need deeper scientific feedback, choose Expert Review. The full report is calibrated to Chem. Commun..

Run Free Readiness Scan See a sample report

Article Types

Communication

3,000 words

Short significant chemical research

Feature Article

5,000-7,000 words

Invited perspective on chemistry topic

Landmark Chem. Commun. Papers

Papers that defined fields and changed science:

Novel synthetic methods (various) - enabling new chemistry
Materials with unique properties (various) - functional discovery
Green chemistry breakthroughs (various) - sustainable synthesis
Catalytic innovations (various) - efficient transformations
Supramolecular assemblies (various) - self-organization control

Preparing a Chem. Commun. Submission?

Get pre-submission feedback from reviewers who've published in Chem. Commun. and know exactly what editors look for.

Run Free Readiness Scan

Need expert depth? See Expert Review Options

NDA-protected

Confidential

Primary Fields

Synthetic MethodsMaterials ChemistryCatalysisSupramolecular ChemistryGreen ChemistryChemical Biology

More Guides for This Journal

Ready to submit to Chem. Commun.?

A desk rejection costs months. Get expert feedback before you submit, from scientists who know exactly what Chem. Commun. editors look for.

Avoid Desk Rejection

Get expert pre-submission review before you submit to Chem. Commun.. 3-7 day turnaround.

Manuscript Rejected?

Expert revision help to strengthen your manuscript and resubmit with confidence.

Reviewer Response Help

Get expert guidance crafting your response to Chem. Commun. reviewers.

Reference library

Compare Chem. Commun. with the broader publishing context

This journal guide is the best starting point for Chem. Commun.. The reference library covers the surrounding questions authors usually ask next: whether the package is ready, what drives desk rejection, how neighboring journals compare, and what the submission constraints look like across the field.

Open the reference library →

Checklist system / operational asset

Elite Submission Checklist

A flagship pre-submission checklist that turns journal-fit, desk-reject, and package-quality lessons into one operational final-pass audit.

Flagship report / decision support

Desk Rejection Report

A canonical desk-rejection report that organizes the most common editorial failure modes, what they look like, and how to prevent them.

Dataset / reference hub

Journal Intelligence Dataset

A canonical journal dataset that combines selectivity posture, review timing, submission requirements, and Manusights fit signals in one citeable reference asset.

Dataset / reference guide

Peer Review Timelines by Journal

Reference-grade journal timeline data that authors, labs, and writing centers can cite when discussing realistic review timing.