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 Steve Liddle (University of Manchester, UK) below!

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Steve Liddle is Professor and Head of Inorganic Chemistry and co-Director of the Centre for Radiochemistry Research at The University of Manchester. He obtained his BSc (Hons) in 1997 and PhD (Prof. W. Clegg) in 2000 from Newcastle University. After postdoctoral fellowships at Edinburgh University (Dr P. Bailey), Newcastle University (Dr K. Izod) as the Wilfred Hall Research Fellow, and Nottingham University (Prof. P. Arnold) he was appointed to a fixed-term Lectureship at Nottingham University in 2007. He subsequently took up a Royal Society University Research Fellowship (2007-2015) with a proleptic Lectureship, and he was promoted to Associate Professor and Reader in 2010 and Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in 2013. He moved to The University of Manchester in 2015. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2011, Vice President to the Executive Committee of the European Rare Earth and Actinide Society (ERES, 2012-now), ERES President-Elect (2024), and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2022.

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

Over my scientific career publishing has become much more involved. My first ChemComm was published in 1998 and was two pages with no SI, in contrast the latest paper here in 2024 is four pages with a thirty two page SI. However, it is notable that ChemComm has accommodated that increased complexity and, if anything, still sped up the publication process, and it has never compromised its standards to do that. Impact factors rise and fall, but when you publish in ChemComm you know that you’re publishing in a reputed international society journal that is synonymous with quality.

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

It was excellent. This article was reviewed, accepted, and published online in just sixteen days. All stages of the editorial process were seamless and professional, as you’d expect.

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

I think the Emerging Investigators Collection is a really good way for new generations to make their mark. The ChemComm Milestones – First Independent Articles initiative is also really nice as it certainly is a milestone to start publishing independently. I’ve always appreciated the Feature Article format, and I’d encourage any up-and-coming researcher to consider writing one as they represent an excellent opportunity to highlight yourself and what you’re researching and why.

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

As part of our work examining the chemistry of terminal uranium nitrides, which started twelve years ago, we were interested in ascertaining whether we could get our nitrides to coordinate to transition metals, in this instance metallocenes. As is often the case with uranium, we found a varied and mostly unexpected set of results. Some metallocenes didn’t play ball, but cobaltocene gave an unexpected imido product which can be rationalised as reduction of the nitride and the nitride then attacking the resulting cobaltocenium cation. In contrast, when decamethylcobaltocene was used things get more complex and the nitride is converted into an amide. When we examined vanadocene the nitride binds directly to the vanadium. Overall, the work shows the complexity of making heterobimetallic nitride derivatives, reveals one and two electron redox reactions, confirms the presence of nucleophilic nitrides, and demonstrates partial N-atom transfer.

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

There is a varied set of results in our communication, but we learnt a lot from this work and it sets the scene for further investigations to form new heterobimetallic UNM linkages where M is a transition metal, main group, lanthanide, or actinide ion. We speculate, but this could generate interesting new electronic structures, magnetism, or cooperative reactivity. Time will tell!

Be sure to read Steve’s article, “Reactivity of a triamidoamine terminal uranium(vi)-nitride with 3d-transition metal metallocenes” 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 profiles of contributing authors.

Learn more about Chun-Yu Ho (SUSTech, China) below!

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Chun-Yu Ho thanks Prof. Dan Yang and Prof. Timothy F. Jamison for their supervision on organocatalytic asymmetric epoxidation and cross-coupling at The University of Hong Kong (BSc 2000, PhD 2005) and MIT (post-doc 2005-2007), respectively. He started his career as RAP at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2008-2012) and then joined Southern University of Science and Technology as Associate Professor. He is now a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Shenzhen Grubbs Institute. His current research interest mainly focuses on NHC–TM hydride catalyzed alkene synthesis and insertion, such as hydroalkenylation (Acc. Chem. Res. 2023, 56, 1070.), transfer-hydrogenation, and dehydroaromatization.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

It is a trustworthy and energetic platform for promoting interesting new ideas, no matter who you are.

Be sure to read Chun-Yu’s article, “(NHC)Ni(ii)-catalyzed regioselective hydroalkenylation of norbornene derivatives: fine-tuning of NHC ligands and donor alkenes” 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 Subhabrata Maiti (IISER Mohali, India) below!

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Subhabrata Maiti is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali. He obtained PhD degree in 2013 from Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata (supervisor: Prof. Prasanta Kumar Das). Then he moved to University of Padova, Italy to work with Prof. Leonard Prins as a postdoc. In 2017, he did another postdoctoral stint with Prof. Ayusman Sen at Pennsylvania State University (USA) before starting his independent career from October 2018. His present research focus is on exploring chemistry of complex biomolecular systems, emphasizing dynamic (bio)colloidal phoresis, (bio)catalysis and self-assembly.

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

ChemComm is the one of most attractive journals to me since I started my research career in 2008. It is the source of many important research papers including some very tutorial short review articles.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

The articles are short and directly talks about the research. Easy to finish a research paper at one go.

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

As a reader, I feel the heritage, prestige among the chemistry community and very interesting contemporary chemistry research articles.

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

As an author, I like the fast response to any queries from the editors related to manuscript status as well as efficient handling. Additionally, Chemcomm is truly one of the fastest in publication time. The status can also be tracked which is a great feature of RSC publishing.

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

I think publishing peer review file as an additional supporting document will be beneficial that can really help future generation of scientists.

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

The present ChemComm publication first time reported a single general strategy (using catalysis) involved for both interfacial biomolecular and molecular interfacial nanoarchitectonics. The strategy is can be either substrate-induced enzymatic cascade catalysis or co-operative catalysis. In a synthetic o/w droplet interface, we demonstrated molecular and biomolecular nanoarchitectonics in response to the substrate of catalytic surfactant and cascade enzyme, respectively. It will be important in the design of artificial metabolon-related study for applications in biosensing, catalysis.

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

This work will pave the way for designing of environment-responsive heterogeneous droplet-based dynamic and active matter. We believe it can be a gateway in devising active vesicular systems with autonomous formation of heterogeneous membrane alike plasma membrane in cells.

Be sure to read Subhabrata’s article, “Substrate-induced assembly of cascade enzymes and catalytic surfactants: nanoarchitectonics at the oil-in-water droplet interface” 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 Philip Norcott (Australian National University, Australia) below!

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Philip Norcott is currently an independent research fellow at the Research School of Chemistry at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australia. An organic chemist by training, his research interests extend beyond synthesis to include developing and understanding chemical aspects of NMR hyperpolarisation using para-hydrogen, as well as an interest in fundamental physical-organic and synthetic applications of electrochemistry for sustainability. He obtained his PhD from the University of Sydney, Australia, in 2016 and then completed postdoctoral research at the University of York, United Kingdom, and at ANU, Australia. He was awarded a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) from the Australian Research Council which allowed him to begin his independent research program in 2021. https://norcottlab.com

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

The combination of the accessible communication format alongside the broad range of subdisciplines that are included makes ChemComm particularly engaging, and valuable for maintaining an up-to-date perspective on all areas of chemistry, not just our own niche interests.

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

I’ve always found that the submission process with ChemComm has been very streamlined and efficient. My last manuscript proceeded from submission to an inital decision in one of the shortest timeframes I think I’ve ever experienced. The editorial team was responsive and the peer reviewers that were selected were highly professional and on-topic.

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

ChemComm’s option to select alternative formats for peer-review (for example double-anonymised review) can certainly be helpful in certain cases; I think also incorporating transparent peer-review strategies will be a highly beneficial addition for future authors, peer-reviewers, and readers of the journal alike, helping to maximise open and helpful scientific discourse during review.

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

Our recent work published in ChemComm shows that aldoximes (RHC=N-OH) are effective ligands for a catalytic process known as SABRE (Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange), which is an NMR hyperpolarisation technique that greatly enhances signal intensities. Hyperpolarisation generates molecules with non-equilibrium nuclear spin, and has been used elsewhere to produce MRI contrast agents or highly sensitive markers for metabolic monitoring. What is particularly compelling about our latest findings is that the OH group of the oxime can directly transfer hyperpolarised signal to other molecules through proton exchange. As a result of this work we are excited to now be investigating further unexplored chemical structures and reactivity in this field, aiming to develop new and innovative chemical tools for NMR hyperpolarisation which, in-turn, will advance capability in molecular imaging and detection.

Be sure to read Philip’s article, “Aldoximes enable proton-relayed NMR hyperpolarisation” 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 Artur Ciesielski (Université de Strasbourg, France) below!

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

In the past, ChemComm focused exclusively on short communications that reported novel research findings across all areas of chemistry. Over time, its scope has expanded significantly. While it still emphasizes rapid publication of cutting-edge research, the journal now covers a broader spectrum of interdisciplinary topics, such as materials chemistry, nanotechnology, chemical biology, and energy-related chemistry. This shift is indicative of the journal’s commitment to staying at the forefront of impactful and socially relevant research areas.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

One of the journal’s defining features is and has always been its focus on rapid publication. ChemComm continues to emphasize speed without compromising on quality. With the rise of open access movements, ChemComm has also adopted flexible publishing models and it now offers hybrid models that allow authors to choose open-access options for broader visibility.

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

ChemComm is a unique and highly respected journal, particularly for researchers looking to quickly publish novel, impactful work in a format that reaches a broad and influential audience. If I was asked to create an add for ChemComm, the following bulletpoints will certainly be there:

– Rapid, high-impact publication for cutting-edge discoveries.

– Interdisciplinary scope, covering a wide range of chemistry-related fields.

– Concise communication format, making research findings more accessible.

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

The peer review process at ChemComm was and still is highly organized and efficient, with clear guidelines ensuring that each review is timely and thoughtful. The editorial team was always keen in answering my questions (also outside of the peer review processes)

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

As there is always a room for improvement, I would like to see ChemComm adopting initiatives that could support the professional growth of future generations of young researchers in the field of chemistry.

– Mentorship programs pairing young scientists with senior researchers in peer review processes – this has been adopted by some prominent journals and it allows young researchers to be acknowledged for their contribution as co-reviewer.

– Diversity and inclusion initiatives to support underrepresented geographical groups – while there are already special issues showcasing the work of early-stage researchers, it would be valuable for ChemComm to also focus on highlighting the chemistry emerging from developing countries in Central and Eastern Europe. A possible approach could involve the creation of country-specific virtual issues, which would spotlight the unique challenges and innovations in these regions. Such an initiative would not only provide greater visibility to researchers from underrepresented areas but also foster international collaboration and inspire further advancements in the global chemistry community. By emphasizing the scientific contributions from these countries, ChemComm could play a key role in promoting diversity and inclusivity in the field of chemistry.

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

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a class of crystalline, porous materials made up of light elements like hydrogen, boron, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, connected by covalent bonds. COFs have attracted significant interest as electrode materials for supercapacitors and metal-ion batteries due to their high surface area, adjustable porosity, and capacity for reversible redox reactions—key factors in improving energy storage capacity and cycling stability in these devices. However, designing COFs with specific electrochemical properties remains a primary focus in materials science and nanotechnology. In our recent work, we synthesized hollow COFs using an anthraquinone-based framework through a template-assisted method with PS nanospheres, evaluating their performance in energy storage applications.

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

Building upon the findings discussed in our paper, several promising areas of research could be explored to advance the development of COFs for energy storage applications:

– Optimization of Synthesis Methods. Further refining the template-assisted synthesis process could lead to better control over the morphology, porosity, and crystallinity of COFs. Exploring alternative templates or self-templating strategies might result in more uniform hollow structures or new architectures that enhance electrochemical performance.

-Exploring New Functional Monomers. Investigating a broader range of functional monomers that are acid-soluble or responsive to different chemical environments could allow for the design of COFs with more tailored electrochemical properties, such as higher conductivity or enhanced redox activity.

Be sure to read Artur’s article, “Template-assisted synthesis of hollow anthraquinone-based covalent organic frameworks for aqueous zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors” 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 Sasidhar B. S. (CSIR-NIIST, India) below!

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Dr Sasidhar B. S., received an M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry (2006) and a Ph.D. in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry (2012) from Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi, India, under the supervision of Professor J. S. Biradar. Before his PhD, he had industrial stints at leading pharmaceutical industries (2006-2008). In 2012, he joined as a Scientist at the Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Kerala, India.  Presently, he is a Principal Scientist and an Associate Professor (AcSIR). He has published over 85 peer-reviewed articles and reviews with an impact factor of >350 that have been cited over 2300 times with an H index of 27. His research interests include the development of novel synthetic methodologies for the NCEs and heterocycles of medicinal relevance. Improved processes for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and speciality chemicals, and target-based drug design via synthetic and natural product-based approaches. He is a recipient of multiple awards and fellowships, including the prestigious CSIR Young Scientist Award (2019) from CSIR, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, India; the Kerala State Young Scientist Award (2017) from KSCSTE, Govt. of Kerala, India, Fellow of Indian Chemical Society (2020), Kolkata, and the Young Associate of Indian Academy of Sciences (2019), Bangalore, India.

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

ChemComm continues to evolve, showcasing publications that explore intriguing concepts, present new findings and highlight novel research outputs.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

ChemComm is one of my favourite journals due to its quick, high-quality review process, strong reputation within the chemical community, real-time manuscript tracking, and prompt final decisions.

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

The standard of ChemComm is reflected in the high-quality, interdisciplinary research it publishes each year. As a prestigious primary chemistry journal, it is supported by a world-class editorial team, ensuring a fair and quick review process—an important advantage in attracting submissions.

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

The peer review process is notably transparent, emphasizing and refining the quality of the manuscript throughout. The editors handle the manuscripts with fairness and professionalism, while the reviewers consistently provide insightful suggestions that enhance the overall quality of our work. Overall, interactions with the editorial team are very pleasant.

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

By continuing to support early-career researchers through special issues in interdisciplinary fields and featuring short interviews and brief videos about their recent advancements, the journal serves as an outstanding platform for showcasing their world-class research skills

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

In recent years, visible-light-initiated organic reactions have gained much attention and have often provided better alternatives compared to conventional counterpart protocols. Inspired by these observations, we successfully demonstrated the visible light-promoted O-alkenylation of phenols and naphthols with terminal alkynes by utilising 2,4,6-tris(4-fluorophenyl)-pyrylium tetrafluoroborate (T(p-F)PPT) as a photocatalyst without the need of any external ligand or additive. Apart from its excellent functional group tolerance, the protocol represents an appealing alternative strategy to the classical transition-metal catalysed reactions. In addition, this strategy proceeds under mild and metal-free conditions upon irradiation with simple household LEDs.

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

We are thrilled about our photocatalyst design and synthesis, which allows us to create a diverse library of pyrylium-based photocatalysts through our patented one-pot process. In our current project, we focus on replacing conventional metal catalysts with pyrylium-based photocatalysis systems for coupling and cycloaddition reactions under mild conditions, enhancing reaction efficiency. Additionally, the demonstrated O-alkenylation strategy will be applied to more complex, medicinally significant reactions and late-stage diversification processes. Several promising results are forthcoming and will be shared in due course.

Be sure to read Sasidhar’s article, “A selective photoinduced radical O-alkenylation of phenols and naphthols with terminal alkynes” 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 Kyoseung Sim (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea) below!

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Kyoseung Sim has been an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) since March 2024, after serving as an assistant professor since Spring 2020. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Houston in 2018, under the supervision of Cunjiang Yu. Dr. Sim’s current research focuses on soft electronics, including organic semiconductors and their system-level applications, with an emphasis on recyclable soft electronics for environmental sustainability. His work explores how chemistry is critical to advancing next-generation wearable devices and how chemical understanding can be utilized to create innovative solutions for the future.

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

Over the years, I have observed that ChemComm has consistently upheld its reputation as a highly respected journal, publishing significant advancements in chemistry. One of its most remarkable qualities is its adaptability and openness to change. This flexibility has allowed the journal to broaden its scope, not only maintaining a strong focus on fundamental chemical research but also exploring how chemistry can be applied to address real-world challenges. By doing so, ChemComm bridges the gap between pure scientific inquiry and practical applications, illustrating how chemistry can both advance knowledge and offer solutions that improve our daily lives. This comprehensive approach is invaluable in guiding the future direction of research. In other words, ChemComm provides timely and impactful contributions across all chemistry-related fields, making it a valuable resource for both seasoned researchers and emerging scientists.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

My favorite aspect of ChemComm is its rapid publication process, concise communication of impactful research, and, despite this timeliness, its rigorous peer review. I believe this combination allows ChemComm to remain at the forefront of cutting-edge chemistry, quickly disseminating advancements and pioneering new areas of research.

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

My response would be similar to the previous question. In fast-growing fields like soft organic electronics and wearable technology, the ability to report research efficiently is often crucial. ChemComm offers an excellent platform for such work, combining rapid publication with high-quality peer review, making it a valuable resource for quickly sharing impactful advancements

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

I feel the peer review process at ChemComm is both efficient and constructive. The reviewers provided valuable feedback that significantly improved the clarity and impact of our work, demonstrating a high level of professionalism and expertise in my field. The editorial team was also prompt and supportive, ensuring that the entire process, from submission to publication, was smooth and highly professional.

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

Our recent publication presents the development of fully soft vertical organic photodetectors (v-OPDs), where all components, including the electrodes and light-sensing layers, are made from soft materials. By enhancing both the chemical and physical adhesion between device layers through the introduction of strong chemical bonds, we achieved robust, durable devices capable of withstanding mechanical strain up to 50%. These v-OPDs exhibit excellent light-sensing performance, rapid response times, and can operate without external power, making them highly suited for wearable optoelectronic applications.

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

The immediate next steps would involve enhancing the performance, stability, and mechanical reliability of fully soft v-OPDs under various deformations, which is critical for wearable devices. Another important area of research is extending the improved adhesion between layers—a key innovation in this work—to other types of soft electronics, ensuring its universal applicability. The most crucial direction, however, is to find specific application areas where fully soft v-OPDs are uniquely suited, outperforming other technologies. By reaching the necessary performance thresholds and demonstrating practical, system-level applications, I believe we can more precisely define the role of this technology in next-generation wearable devices.

Be sure to read Kyoseung’s article, “Chemically and physically enhanced adhesion for robust interfaces in all-soft vertical organic photodetectors” 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 Chenxu Wang (Xi’an University of Science and Technology, China) and Roman Boulatov (University of Liverpool, UK) below!

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		Chenxu Wang received his B.Eng. degree from Sichuan University and Ph.D. degree from University of Liverpool focusing on polymer mechanochemistry under supervision of Prof. Roman Boulatov. He is currently a lecturer in Xi’an University of Science and Technology with interests including understanding mechanochemical phenomena through experiments and quantum mechanics computation and developing stress-responsive polymer materials.
Roman Boulatov earned a PhD at Stanford for work on metalloporphyrins, particularly for catalytic low-temperature oxygen reduction under the supervision of Prof. James Collman. After a postdoc at Harvard with Prof. George Whitesides, where he explored unconventional means of energy conversion, he started his independent research program in polymer mechanochemistry at the UIUC before moving to Liverpool in 2012.

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

My impression, which is not based on analysis of any metrics, is that the efficiency and speed of peer review improved and there seem to be more thematic issues. Conversely, I find myself relying on ChemComm less and less frequently (compared to during my PhD in early 2000s).

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

Efficiency of peer review; fairly high density of information

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

A generalist journal with focus on communications and good reputation among chemists

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

Efficient, professional

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

With the proviso that I’m not an expert in publishing, from talking to my colleagues and some other tidbits of opinions, I see an unfilled niche among generalist journals that target and promote independent ECRs who do very promising science but are not “consensus stars”. This subset of independent ECRs pursues rigorous, often highly creative science in fields that the mainstream is either unaware of or may even be prejudiced against, particularly at an interfaces of conventionally defined areas of science. These ECRs prioritize answering difficult scientific questions over self-promotion. A journal that makes a concerted effort to identify these scientists and promote their science, may engender loyalty to the journal that is absent among the hard-nosed highly career-ambitious colleagues.

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

Our recent publication reviews the emerging approaches of exploiting usually destructive mechanical stress to endow simple polymers with exploitable responses to stress. We highlight the role of macroradicals generated by mechanochemical fragmentation of polymer chains to drive the formation of new chemical bonds, thus enabling local self-healing, self-strengthening, mechanofluoresence or other functions. We discuss the chemistry and physics underlying these strategies and articulated the challenge of adapting them to various polymeric materials under different loading scenarios.

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

We expect the findings described in our paper to benefit meaningfully both fundamental and translational research in polymer chemistry, mechanochemistry, polymer engineering and material science in general. For example, better understanding of the fate of macroradicals generated in mechanically-stress polymers likely offers new synthetic routes or new polymerization methods. Mechanochromism derived from macroradicals offers an opportunity to map the distribution of macroscopic mechanical load across the molecular networks, thus enabling molecular-level design of mechanoresponsive properties, such as self-healing and self-strengthening. 

Be sure to read Chenxu and Roman’s #OpenAccess Feature article, “Productive chemistry induced by mechanochemically generated macroradicals” 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 Robert Raja (University of Southampton, UK) below!

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Robert Raja is Professor of Materials Chemistry and Catalysis at the University of Southampton and co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of ViridiCO2, a spin-out company from the University. His career includes appointments at the University of Cambridge (1999-2006), Bayer Chemicals, Germany (joint appointment, 2001-2003) and Royal Commission 1851 Exhibition fellowship at the Royal Institution of Great Britain (1997-1999). His current research activities are focussed on enabling the predictive design platform that he and his research group have developed for the discovery and design of single-site heterogeneous catalysts, which could be used in facilitating sustainable chemical transformations. Using innovative catalytic technologies, his group has developed industrial decarbonisation solutions for building a circular economy, through mitigating the use of fossil fuels and using alternate feedstocks, including CO2, for the production of renewable fuels and polymers. He has published over 200 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and is the co-inventor on 50+ international patents. His notable accolades include the 2020 Emerging Technologies Award in Energy and Environment, the Erskine Fellowship awarded by the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and the Barrer Award by the Royal Society of Chemistry ‘in recognition of outstanding contributions to preparative materials chemistry and their application to industrial catalysis’.

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

I published my first paper in ChemComm in 1998, when I started my postdoctoral research at the Royal Institution, as an 1851 Exhibition Fellow.  We had two pages to communicate our findings and we did not have the option to include supplementary information (only print versions were available at that time). ChemComm was one of the first high-impact journals to move to the digital format, which gave authors four pages to highlight their research in the form of a Communication.  Despite the increase in the number of pages, ChemComm still provided a rapid turnaround in reaching peer review decisions and were very quick to get our articles to the print form, which was noteworthy.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I still remember creating my first front cover for ChemComm back in 2001.  This was a feature article titled “catalytic selectivity of porous oxides”, which I wrote with my supervisor, Prof Sir John Meurig Thomas.  My colleagues at the Royal Institution helped me create an image that was a scientifically captivating, but Sir John was very particular about the background, layout and orientation. We did not have modern editing software at that time; but the production team created a fantastic front cover, which is still my favourite!

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

I think the peer-review process is fair and the editorial team do their best to ensure that an unbiased decision is reached, in case there are conflicting views on a paper.  Author responses to reviewer comments are turned around quickly and I was impressed that the first publication of our accepted article (in this issue) was online within 24 hours.

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

In this paper, we have probed a range of synthetic variables and mapped this to the structural, spectroscopic and textural characteristics of our catalyst, which we have recently developed for the conversion of CO₂ to sustainable marine fuels such as DiMethyl Ether (DME).  Instead of presenting our findings in the traditional manner, as a full paper, we developed a multidimensional correlation matrix, which can concisely and visually show the influence of the synthetic variables on the structural features of the catalyst and how this can impact the overall catalytic performance. The structure-property correlations that can be derived using this approach will enable the rational design of catalysts, thereby reducing laborious, trial and error efforts in the laboratory.  Credit should be given to my PhD student, Maciej Walerowski for leading on this.

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

We will be extending this approach to some of the other projects that we are currently pursuing and validate the scope and wider potential of the correlation matrix for improved catalyst design.  This could be integrated into the predictive design platform that we have recently developed for the discovery of new and improved catalysts.  The global DME market is set to double to $8.8 billion by 2030 and we will be working closely with the maritime transport sector to meet their ambitious net-zero targets.

Be sure to read Robert’s #OpenAccess article, “Rationalising catalytic performance using a unique correlation matrix” 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 Bo Jiang (Jiangsu Normal University, China) below!

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Bo Jiang, Professor at Jiangsu Normal University. After graduating with a PhD from Suzhou University in 2010, he joined the School of Chemistry & Materials Science at Jiangsu Normal University. He serves as editorial board members of Chinese Chemical Letters, Chinese Journal of Organic Chemistry, Tetrahedron, Tetrahedron Letters, and other journals. So far, he has published over 200 papers in many journals such as J. Am. Chem. Soc.、Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.、Nat. Commun. etc., which has been cited over 8000 times. He has received many funding projects such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China-Youth Fund and General Projects, and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province. Moreover, he honors as a young academic leader in the “333 Project” in Jiangsu Province and as a young academic leader in the “Qing Lan Project” of universities in Jiangsu Province. He has won the second prize of Excellent Scientific Research Achievement Award for Higher Education Institutions of the Ministry of Education, the second prize of Science and Technology Award for Jiangsu Province, and the third prize of Science and Technology Research Achievement Award for Higher Education Institutions of Jiangsu Province.

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

Since I commenced my research in organic synthetic chemistry in 2004, ChemComm has consistently captured my attention. The journal steadfastly upholds the principle of ‘publishing highly innovative research findings within the realm of chemistry and its related sciences,’ showcasing numerous high-impact studies that have significantly influenced the advancement of both chemistry and associated scientific disciplines, thereby greatly fostering progress in chemical science. The editorial team is characterized by professionalism and efficiency, maintaining rigorous quality control over submissions while ensuring prompt processing and providing invaluable expert feedback from reviewers. In 2012, my inaugural research paper published in ChemComm was honored as an outside cover article. My submission experience was exceptionally positive, leaving me with a cherished memory that continues to resonate with me today

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

ChemComm boasts a distinguished and extensive history, chronicling over a century of advancements in the field of chemistry. Its content encompasses the entirety of chemical sciences, offering a premier communication platform for professionals within the discipline.

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

In my opinion, ChemComm stands out for its high requirements for paper quality, efficient and timely peer review process, effective communication between the editorial team and authors, and fast publication of papers.

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

In this communication, we introduce an asymmetric application of palladium and chiral bisimidazoline ligand catalytic system, achieving asymmetric dearomative Michael addition of polycyclic tropones. This research can provide useful reference and guidance for the asymmetric construction of bridged axially chiral compounds.

Be sure to read Professor Jiang’s article, “Construction of central and axial chirality via Pd(ii)/Bim-catalyzed asymmetric dearomative Michael reaction of polycyclic tropones” to learn more!