Journal Guide
Chemical Communications Impact Factor 4.2: Publishing Guide
Significant chemical breakthroughs: synthesis, materials, and discovery
4.2
Impact Factor (2024)
~20-30%
Acceptance Rate
~90-120 days median
Time to First Decision
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 quick diagnostic reads your full manuscript against Chem. Commun.'s criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
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
PrepUp 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 0Submit 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 weeksEditor assesses novelty and significance. Papers lacking clear breakthrough chemistry or broader impact face rejection. Selective desk rejection ~40-50%.
Peer review
90-120 days2-3 chemistry experts assess novelty, experimental rigor, significance, and generalizability. First decision 90-120 days.
Revision and publication
Revision: 2-4 weeksRevisions 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.
The pre-submission diagnostic runs a live literature search, scores your manuscript section by section, and gives you a prioritized fix list calibrated to Chem. Commun.. ~30 minutes.
Article Types
Communication
3,000 wordsShort significant chemical research
Feature Article
5,000-7,000 wordsInvited 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
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Primary Fields
Related Journal Guides
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- Publishing in Angewandte Chemie International Edition
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