Chemical Communications Blog

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Neal Mankad (University of Illinois Chicago, USA) below!

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Neal P. Mankad received his S.B. in chemistry from MIT in 2004 after having conducted undergraduate research with Prof. Joseph P. Sadighi on copper N-heterocyclic carbene complexes. In 2010, Neal earned a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Caltech as an NSF graduate research fellow under the supervision of Prof. Jonas C. Peters, working on biomimetic and bioinspired complexes of copper and iron. During 2010-2012, he was an NIH postdoctoral research fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, with Prof. F. Dean Toste studying fundamental organometallic chemistry of gold. Since 2012, Neal has been an independent faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), where his group focuses on synthetic inorganic and organometallic systems relevant to chemical sustainability. Selected research awards earned by Neal include the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship and the NIH Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA). He has also gained distinction for excellence in teaching, including by the UIC Teaching Recognition Program.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

The noteworthy things about ChemComm that stand out to me favourably include the ability to process cutting-edge submissions quickly and the fact that it is a unique venue to publish short-form works at early stages of development.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

The peer review process tends to be efficient and well suited for works that need to be communicated rapidly for any reason. The editorial team at ChemComm (and all RSC journals I’m familiar with, I might add) are ever helpful and responsive.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

With the increasing number of journals on the scene, it is critical to keep emphasizing the unique aspects of ChemComm that make it irreplicable.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

In this publication, we revisited some well-known complexes with Mo≣Mo quadruple bonds and redesigned them to have varying numbers of cationically charged groups in the second coordination sphere. This allowed us to quantify the effect on the binuclear core of electrostatic fields, ultimately revealing that the effect is just about half that what we’d expect for a mononuclear core. Not only is this new fundamental knowledge about electrostatic field effects in inorganic chemistry, but also it is crucial calibration data we will use when carrying out studies in which we use closely related complexes for energy storage applications. Look for this soon in the literature!

Be sure to read Neal’s communication, “Quantifying effects of second-sphere cationic groups on redox properties of dimolybdenum quadruple bonds” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Dr Artur Kasprzak (Warsaw University of Technology, Poland) below!

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Dr. hab. Artur Kasprzak obtained his PhD (2020) and DSc (2023) in chemistry from the Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Poland. He is currently an assistant professor therein. He leads an ambitious young research group performing interdisciplinary research works within organic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and (nano)materials chemistry. Currently, he is mainly focused on the design of molecular receptors of ions, with a special focus on molecules featuring the buckybowl motif or polyaromatic derivatives with aggregation-induced behaviors. He has been a co-author of 65 research papers from the JCR journals, including 39 as the corresponding author (current H index = 16).

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

In my opinion, over the years ChemComm has grown into a leading and very prestigious general chemistry journal. For me, in ChemComm you can read about current significant research works from the world’s leading research groups. It is also a great journal for young research group leaders to publish their work in top-quality journal. It is indeed an exciting feeling to see your work published in ChemComm alongside works of well-recognized top specialists in the field!

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

ChemComm it is the journal where you can find lots of good quality papers from different areas of chemistry, from both young researchers and well-recognized scientists, describing brilliant scientific ideas and well-executed research.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

Very fast publication times of communication-type manuscripts of high significance and prominent quality.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

I always find the peer review process at ChemComm fair with the professional opinions of Reviewers. The process is also very fast, which is beneficial in terms of publishing in a relatively short time the research results with prospective high impact in the future.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

I think, continuous promotion of new faces in the chemical society, such as young group leaders to boost their careers.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

My group is currently working on the design of new polyaromatic derivatives, including bowl-shaped molecules, for molecular recognition purposes, mainly in terms of the design of electrochemical and optical sensors of ions. Together with Marcin (Dr. Marcin Lindner, Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry) we envisioned that the N-doped and bowl-shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons synthesized in his laboratory could serve as a new class of molecular receptors toward the recognition of cations. In this communication, we presented the results of our electrochemical, spectroscopic and computational studies on cation-p interactions between these exciting molecules and selected metal cations, toward the design of new class of molecular receptors for potentiometric and optical sensors.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

I believe this paper opens new avenues in yet unexplored areas of application of N-doped and bowl-shaped nanographenes. According to our studies, the molecular recognition process with the inclusion of such molecules and cationic species could be tracked both electrochemically and spectroscopically. I imagine the possibilities of using other techniques for tracking such interactions in terms of applied sciences of bowl-shaped molecules. There are also many exciting nanographenes and/or analytes that could be potentially used in future studies in such area.

Be sure to read Artur’s Open Access communication, “Metal cations recognition by bowl-shaped N-pyrrolic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Dr Joao M. Batista Jr. (Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil) below!

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João M. Batista Jr. received a BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences (2007) and a PhD in Chemistry (2012) from UNESP, Brazil. During 2009-2010 he was appointed Visiting Research Scholar at Syracuse University, USA. He then worked as a postdoctoral fellow at UNESP (2012-2015) with a period as Visiting Scientist at the University of Manchester (2012-2013). In 2015, he joined UFSCar, Brazil, to lead the first Vibrational Optical Activity research group in South America. Currently, he works as an assistant professor of chemistry at UNIFESP, in São José dos Campos, Brazil. His research involves stereochemical studies of small molecules and macromolecules using chiroptical methods and quantum-chemical calculations.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

The time to first decision.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

ChemComm is a dependable source of cutting-edge research across the chemical sciences. Regardless of specific impact factor numbers, which obviously fluctuates, you can always rest assured that any paper published will be of sufficient quality and novelty. Additionally, the four-page format makes it easier and more enjoyable to read, even though it may be a challenging requirement to meet as an author.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

The determination of the absolute configuration (exact spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule) is one of the most challenging steps during the structural elucidation process of natural products. As a result, significant numbers of misassignments are still reported in the literature every year. Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), which was first reported 50 years ago, represents one of the most powerful chiroptical spectroscopic methods available to unambiguously assess both the absolute configuration and conformations of chiral molecules directly in solution, and even for those devoid of UV-vis chromophores. Despite its potential, VCD is still largely underutilized by the natural product community worldwide for varying reasons. In the Highlight article recently published in ChemComm we presented the evolution of the application of VCD to natural product chemistry, focusing on its strengths as well as points that still need improvement, along with general experimental and computational guidelines for its correct application. With this paper, we hope more researchers will feel encouraged and confident to use VCD to solve stereochemical problems.

Be sure to read Joao’s full Highlight article, “Stereochemistry of natural products from vibrational circular dichroism” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Tianyi Ma (RMIT University, Australia) below!

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Tianyi Ma is a RMIT University Distinguished Professor, an Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry, and Clarivate’s Global Highly Cited Researcher. He is Director of ARC Industrial Transformation Hub for Intelligent Energy Efficiency in Future Protected Cropping, and Research Director of Centre for Atomaterials and Nanomanufacturing (CAN). His international standing is evidenced by >300 publications in top-tier journals with an H-index of 94 and >37,000 citations. His ground-breaking research has been acknowledged by internationally recognised experts and authorities via the AAS Le Févre Medal, Young Tall Poppy Science Award, ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, and Horizon Prize of Royal Society of Chemistry. His scientific impact and leadership are also evidenced by supervision of over 30 Ph.D. students, secured more than AU$40m in government and industry funding, and heavy engagement in international academic roles, such as Associate Editor, Editorial Board Member and Guest Editor for over 10 reputable international journals. He focuses on developing fundamental scientific breakthroughs and also up-scaling prototypes with far-reaching industry influence and real-life applications. Demonstrations and pilot plants have been established locally in Australia to drive his technologies to practical deployment and commercialisation, for example, the square meter sized solar-to-hydrogen generator, kilowatt level CO2 electrolyser, kilogram-scale formic acid production micro-pilot plant, and high-energy density battery packs, which change the way how society generates and consumes energy and chemicals.

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

Over the years, ChemComm has evolved significantly in both scope and impact. Initially focused on rapid communications in chemistry, it has expanded to cover a wide range of topics, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern chemical research. One of the most noteworthy aspects is its commitment to high-quality, high-impact research. The introduction of themed issues and special collections has also been a positive development, allowing for deeper dives into specific areas of interest.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

My favorite thing about ChemComm is its emphasis on publishing concise and impactful communications. This format allows researchers to quickly disseminate their most important findings to the scientific community. Additionally, the high standards of peer review and the rapid publication timeline make it an ideal venue for sharing cutting-edge research.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

ChemComm stands out for its rigorous peer review process, which ensures that only high-quality and significant research is published. The journal’s broad scope and interdisciplinary approach attract a diverse readership, facilitating combination of ideas across different areas of chemistry. Furthermore, its affiliation with the Royal Society of Chemistry lends it a prestigious reputation and wide visibility.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

The peer review process at ChemComm is thorough and constructive. Reviewers are experts in their fields and provide detailed feedback that helps authors improve the quality of their manuscripts. The editorial team is professional, responsive, and supportive throughout the submission and review process. Their commitment to maintaining high standards ensures the integrity and impact of the published research.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

To further support and engage with future generations of scientists, ChemComm could enhance its mentorship and educational initiatives. This might include organizing webinars and workshops on scientific writing, peer review, and career development. Additionally, creating platforms for young researchers to showcase their work and interact with established scientists would foster a more inclusive and supportive research community.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

Our recent publication in ChemComm, titled “Mg ions intercalated with V3O7·H2O to construct ultrastable cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion battery,” explores the synthesis and characterization of a novel cathode material. By intercalating magnesium ions into V3O7·H2O, we have developed a highly stable cathode for zinc-ion batteries, demonstrating improved electrochemical performance and cycling stability. This work contributes to the development of more efficient and durable energy storage systems.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

The next steps in this research involve further optimization of the cathode material to enhance its performance. Investigating the underlying mechanisms of ion intercalation and diffusion at the atomic level could provide deeper insights into improving material design. Additionally, exploring the scalability and commercial viability of these cathode materials in practical battery applications will be crucial. Future research could also extend this approach to other types of ion batteries, potentially leading to breakthroughs in energy storage technology.

Be sure to read Tianyi Ma’s full article, “Mg ions intercalated with V3O7·H2O to construct ultrastable cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Yuya Oaki (Keio University, Japan) below!

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Yuya Oaki is a Professor in the Department of Applied Chemistry, Keio University, Japan. He received his PhD in 2006 from Keio University and worked at The University of Tokyo as a postdoctoral fellow. His current research interest is in layered materials, nanosheets, and conjugated polymers with 2D anisotropy and their applications, such as batteries, catalysts, and sensors. In addition, machine learning is combined with these experimental data. His research was highlighted by The Chemical Society of Japan Award For Young Chemists in 2015. He also worked as a Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) PRESTO project researcher from 2016. His work has been featured in the Emerging Investigator collection of Chem. Commun., 2017, 53, 7329.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

The four-page limitation is preferable for authors, reviewers, and readers because we can know the straightforward conclusions in a short time.

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

ChemComm has published many high-quality balanced communications from a broad range of chemistry. Browsing the graphical abstracts in the website allows us to follow the trends in chemistry from across the world.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

ChemComm is one of the most authoritative journals in general chemistry. Thanks to the four-page limitation, we can quickly and easily understand the important conclusions from a broad range of papers.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

Many reviewers in ChemComm provide straightforward, rational, and useful comments, regardless of the positive and negative. Moreover, thanks to reviewers and editors, the time to decision and publication is very short. So, ChemComm has been a real communication journal.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

I’m very happy to publish a Feature Article summarizing our recent works about the concept of cascading responses in stimuli-responsive materials with Prof Fujii, one of my collaborators. Prof. Fujii summarizes stimuli-responsive soft active materials as functional carriers. I introduce materials and devices based on layered 2D polydiacetylene with the tuned stimuli-responsive color-change properties for sensing heat, light, and force.

Be sure to read Yuya Oaki’s full Feature Article, “Cascading responses of stimuli-responsive materials” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Chung-Wei Kung (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan) below!

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Chung-Wei Kung earned his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from National Taiwan University, Taiwan in 2011 and 2015, respectively, under the supervision of Professor Kuo-Chuan Ho. He joined The Hupp and Farha Groups in Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University as a visiting scholar and postdoctoral researcher during 2013-2014 and 2016-2018, respectively. Thereafter, he joined Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan as an assistant professor to launch his independent research group in August 2018 and was promoted as associate professor in 2021. His research focuses on the design, synthesis, and materials chemistry of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-based nanocomposites and their electrochemical applications. He is the recipient of several awards in Taiwan including the national “Yushan Young Fellow” (2018 & 2023) and “Ta-You Wu Memorial Award” (2022). He was also selected as the “Outstanding Reviewer” of Chemical Communications in 2022.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

ChemComm provides fast reviewing and publishing processes to report novel findings providing new insights in chemistry. It allows the up-to-date spread of new ideas and findings to the chemistry community, and thus can inspire and influence other researchers without a long time delay. I can always find interesting studies and new ideas by reading articles in ChemComm.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

In addition to the fast publishing process, ChemComm emphasized the new contributions of its work in the aspect of all fields of chemistry, and it published rigorous studies in chemistry. ChemComm also has a long history and a great reputation in the chemistry community. Such facts render ChemComm standing out from other metric-chasing Journals focusing a lot on high performances in applications in recent years and Journals in specialized subfields.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

Peer-review process is quick, and comments are constructive. In addition, as a reviewer of ChemComm for several articles, I found that the review reports from other reviewers are usually quite constructive with a high quality and rigor in chemistry. We thank the reviewers and the professional editorial team.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

In our group, we focus on the design of MOF-based porous materials and their roles in aqueous electrochemical processes while preserving their structural integrity. Thus, our contributions mostly focus on group(IV) metal-based MOFs such as zirconium(IV)-based MOFs (Zr-MOFs), since their structures are highly tunable, and they are stable in aqueous solutions. Numerous studies published since 2015 have attempted to utilize Zr-MOFs in electrocatalysis. Thus, as the author of several of them, I contributed this Feature Article in ChemComm to highlight the progress of this subfield over the past ten years, clarify the critical concepts regarding how the MOFs can play unique roles in electrochemical processes and what could be the rational design, and provide perspectives and constructive suggestions on future studies to this community.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

More opportunities are there to incorporate such highly stable MOFs into a range of electrochemical processes to enhance or adjust the reaction rates and selectivity. Stability of the framework during the electrochemical process and tracing structural changes during the reaction will attract more attention, and the actual roles of each MOF in each electrocatalytic process will be further clarified in future studies. These areas and findings should be of highly interest to the chemistry community and provide different viewpoints compared to application-oriented studies.

Be sure to read Chung-Wei’s full Feature Article, “Zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks and their roles in electrocatalysis” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Hang Hubert Yin (Tsinghua University) below!

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Professor Hang Hubert Yin was born in Beijing in 1976. After studying for a bachelor’s degree at Peking University, he received his PhD from Yale University in 2004 under the supervision of Professor Andrew Hamilton and then spent a post-doctoral period at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with Professor William DeGrado. In 2018, Professor Yin joined the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tsinghua University as a founding Deputy Dean. Prior to joining Tsinghua, he was a tenured faculty member of the University of Colorado Boulder. His research interests lie at the interface of chemistry, biology, and engineering with particular focuses on structure-based drug design, extracellular vesicles, cell signaling biochemistry, biotechnology development, and membrane protein simulations. Professor Yin is a recipient of many accolades for his research in chemical biology and drug discovery, including the Wu Jieping-Paul Janssen Medical & Pharmaceutical Award, American Chemical Society David W. Robertson Award for Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry, OKeanos-CAPA Senior Investigator Award, National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, Beijing Outstanding Young Scientist, CAPA Distinguished Junior Faculty Award, NSF CAREER Award, AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award, Sidney Kimmel Scholars Award, and HHMI Collaborative Innovation Award among others. Professor Yin’s is currently serving as a member of the Academic Committee of Tsinghua University, a Senior Advisor to the ISEV Board, the Editor-in-Chief of Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, and a Deputy Editor of the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles.

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

I feel that the ChemComm definitely has been growing with the filed, becoming notably more interdisciplinary. Over these years, ChemComm has also strengthened its status as a primary venue for Chemistry, the central science in general.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I like it as a timely reporter to the general field of chemistry. If you want to keep us with the most exciting frontiers of chemistry, ChemComm provides a nice handle.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

The journal is indeed quite international and interdisciplinary.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

Simply put, this is one of the most pleasant review process I had recently. It literally took less than two months from the initial submission to the publication of the paper, demonstrating the high efficiency of the editorial and production team.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

To implement new technologies will be helpful. With the help of AI, new directions of scientific publishing is emerging on the horizon.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

In this recent study, we have identified pyridine-based small molecule inhibitors capable of mitigating cell death triggered by SARM1’s NADase activity. These inhibitors operate non-competitively by binding to NAD+ and forming an in situ inhibitory complex, thus inhibiting SARM1’s enzymatic function. Through meticulous structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, we have optimized a potent SARM1 inhibitor, TH-408, which offers significant protection against cell death caused by SARM1’s NADase activity. This study deepens our insight into SARM1 inhibition and highlights its therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disorders by inhibiting SARM1 activation.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

Further exploration of SARM1 inhibitors in neurodegenerative disease models is crucial for assessing the therapeutic potential of TH-408 and validating the effectiveness of inhibiting SARM1 activation as a strategy to maintain healthy neurons. In-vivo studies will assess the efficacy and safety of these inhibitors across various neurodegenerative models, with emphasis on diseases associated with NAD+ depletion or metabolic disorders. The targeted exploration will extend to evaluating the application of these inhibitors in various neurodegenerative disease models, which will help expand the scope of SARM1-targeted therapies and assist in validating the critical scientific question of NAD+ metabolic dysregulation in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Given the current limited application of SARM1 small molecule inhibitors in multiple neurodegenerative disease models and the lack of specific research on the role of NAD+ deficiency in the onset and progression of these diseases, the next steps will involve leveraging the in vitro efficacy of TH-408 to establish its effectiveness in different neurodegenerative disease models.

Be sure to read Hubert’s full communication, “Pyridine-based small molecule inhibitors of SARM1 alleviate cell death caused by NADase activity” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Matthew J. Langton (University of Oxford, UK) below!

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Matthew J. Langton is an Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Royal Society University Research Fellow in the Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford. He is also Tutor and Fellow in Inorganic Chemistry at Balliol College, Oxford. He leads a research group working on supramolecular, coordination and lipid bilayer membrane chemistry. He began his independent research group in 2018 following the award of the Royal Society University Research Fellowship, and was appointed to his current position in September 2020. Prior to that he held an Oppenheimer Early Career Research Fellowship at the University of Cambridge (2015-18), working with Professor Chris Hunter FRS on transmembrane signalling using supramolecular systems. He studied Chemistry at Lincoln College, University of Oxford, and carried out his Part II research year in the group of Harry Anderson FRS. This was followed by a DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry (2018), supervised by Professor Paul Beer on rotaxanes and catenanes for anion recognition and sensing in aqueous media, and a brief spell as an EPSRC Doctoral Award PDRA in the same group.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I appreciate the fast publication process, coupled with quality peer review and great science

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

The short communication format, which is well suited to urgent and impactful studies, and ensures the papers remain focussed

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

At the start of an academic career, when you step away from the umbrella of your mentors and supervisors, increasing your profile is so important. Any ways to help promote new researcher’s groups – both the PI and the team they are building, such as interview, team profiles etc. – is so useful for supporting the leaders of the future as the embark on their independent journey

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

This work builds on an on-going programme in my group developing transmembrane ion transport relays – molecules which can pass ions across a lipid bilayer membrane. In this paper, we show that photo-responsive relays, which can be switched on and off using different wavelengths of light via photo-isomerisation of an azobenzene in the relay molecules, are very sensitive to the relay length. We use this observation to control the system – so that we can reverse the switching sense of the system, enabling control using alternate wavelengths of light.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

We anticipate that this work could lead to new ways to control ion transport in cellular systems, as well as provide a platform for developing new types of transmembrane molecular machines.

Be sure to read Matthew’s open access #HOT article, “Length dependent reversible off–on activation of photo-switchable relay anion transporters” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Letian Dou (Purdue University, USA) below!

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Prof. Letian Dou is currently the Charles Davidson Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Associate Professor of Chemistry (by courtesy) at Purdue University. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from Peking University in 2009 working with Prof. Xinhua Wan and Ph.D. from UCLA Materials Science in 2014 working with Prof. Yang Yang (co-advised by Prof. Fred Wudl @UCSB in 2013). From 2014 to 2017, he was a Postdoc Fellow working with Prof. Peidong Yang at the Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley and Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He joined Purdue University in 2017 and was awarded tenure in 2022. His research interest includes the synthesis of hybrid materials, organic semiconductors, halide perovskites, and related optoelectronic properties and their device applications. He is also a pioneer in polymer single crystal chemistry and materials. He has published over 110 papers with more than 25000 citations (H index = 52 as of Jan 2024).

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

I became a routine ChemComm reader since I was a college student at Peking University. The journal has a long history, one of the longest in the chemical research field. Impressively, it maintains its core value and high standard over many decades. It made every steady step without trying to blindly chase the hot topics to enhance its apparent impact factor. I really appreciate its consistency and the scientific taste on the diverse topics in chemistry.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I think the scientific value and the efficient publishing process are the things I favor most about ChemComm. It published a lot of solid good papers in the past and still keep its own scientific taste in the field of chemistry. It’s also very efficient for the editors to process the papers, and we can always trust that our research work will not be delayed due to the long-processing time.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

It is very fast on processing the submission and publication. I think it may be one of the most efficient journal in our field. As the author, we don’t need to wait for the long-time reviewing process, which guarantee that the scientific results are still fresh and new. In addition, the editor is very fair on making the decisions, which I think is quite critical in keeping on publishing important scientific findings.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

I think the journal can invite more of the early career researchers to act as youth editorial board member, so that they can bring together new minds to advance the field for the next generation, and can also encourage young researchers to participate in all steps of journal publishing. The other way for ChemComm to interact more with future generations of scientists is to invite more of the outstanding young researchers to publish articles in the journal. It not only provides opportunities for the young researchers, but also build strong connections at the early stage of their careers.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

Our recent publication in ChemComm is a featured review article. It summarizes the recent advances about 2D/3D perovskite heterostructures, from the perspectives of structural characteristics and the optoelectronic properties. We focused on discussing the roles of organic ligands in the construction of 2D perovskite and 2D/3D heterostructures, and how does it influence the application in solar cells, LEDs, and photodetectors. More importantly, we also discussed about the current challenges in the field, and provided future perspectives for the development of 2D/3D heterostructures.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

We provided several potential research directions for the future development of this field in the article. One area is the exploration of organic semiconducting ligands in 2D/3D heterostructures. The organic semiconducting ligands can provide various tunability of the structural and optoelectronic properties of 2D perovskite, and thus allow the 2D/3D heterostructures to be designed suitable for different applications, but currently it is still underdeveloped. The other pivotal area is investigating the stability of 2D/3D heterostructures. In the review paper, we discussed about the controversial stability problem of the 2D/3D heterostructure. There’s an urgent need to systematically understand the effect of 2D/3D perovskite heterostructure on the operational stability if solar cell devices, and develop proper ligands to further improve the device stability. We hope in the future, either our group or other research scientists could focus on and solve these issues.

Be sure to read Letian’s open access Feature Article, “Advances and challenges in molecular engineering of 2D/3D perovskite heterostructures” to learn more!