ChemComm’s 60th Anniversary – Maxie Roessler

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 Maxie Roessler (Imperial College London, UK) below!

​​​​​

Dr Maxie Roessler is a Reader at Imperial College London, where she founded and directs the Centre for Pulse EPR spectroscopy (PEPR). Her group seeks to understand and exploit electron transfer in biological and chemical processes through the development of new methodology. Maxie is the recipient of the 2024 RSC Joseph Black Prize, the 2023 Imperial College President’s Medal for Excellence in Research, and the 2022 European Bioinorganic Chemistry Medal.

 

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I really like that the papers are short and to the point, whilst aimed at the general chemistry readership.

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

The peer review process is fast and efficient – and all my interactions with the editorial team have been very pleasant.

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

Initiatives like the New Investigators Issue are great. I was delighted when I received the invitation to contribute to the 60th anniversary issue as we published our original paper on protein film-electrochemical EPR spectroscopy, that this paper builds on, in Chem Comm in 2019.

My suggestion would be to provide a little more support with fitting the paper into 4 pages (e.g. by adjusting figures, legends and spacings), rather than leaving a large part of the editing process to the authors even at first submission.

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

In our paper we showcased a new spectroelectrochemistry developed in my group, film-electrochemical electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (FE-EPR), applied to redox-active membrane proteins. We demonstrated the feasibility of using this method to investigate essential electron transfer processes occurring in proteins whilst in their native (membrane) environment.

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

Ultimately, with FE-EPR, we hope to capture paramagnetic intermediates in membrane proteins whilst they are doing catalysis. The idea is to gain simultaneous insight into reactivity (from electrochemistry) and structure of key active site states (from EPR). This is a challenging undertaking, but I believe it is worth the effort to fill a gap in the methodology currently available to student complex biocatalytic processes.

 

Be sure to read Maxie’s article, “Film-electrochemical EPR spectroscopy to investigate electron transfer in membrane proteins in their native environment” to learn more!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

ChemComm’s 60th Anniversary – Jie Wu

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. Find out more about Jie Wu (Taizhou University, China) below!

​​​​​

Jie Wu received his B.Sc. in chemistry from Jiangxi Normal University in 1995 and he pursued his Ph.D. studies at Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Xue-Long Hou (1995-2000). After conducting research as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University (2000-2001), he worked as a visiting scientist at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Centre (2001-2002) and a staff scientist in VivoQuest, Inc (2002-2004). In 2004, he moved to the Department of Chemistry at Fudan University and held the Professor rank two years later. In 2019, he joined in the School of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering at Taizhou University. He got the Thieme Chemistry Journals Award in 2010 and Dow Innovation Challenge Award in 2013. Currently, his research interests mainly focus on the development of new methods for the synthesis of bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals.

 

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

Great popularity and interdisciplinary fields

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

Fast publication and novelty

 

Be sure to read Jie’s article, “Recent progress in asymmetric radical reactions enabled by chiral iron catalysts” to learn more!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

ChemComm’s 60th Anniversary – Ai-Lan Lee

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 Ai-Lan Lee (University of Edinburgh, UK) below!

​​​​​

Ai-Lan obtained her MSci (Hons) (2000) and PhD (2004) from University of Cambridge, under the supervision of Prof. Steven V. Ley. Following a Lindemann Trust Fellowship (2004–2005) at Boston College with Prof. Amir Hoveyda, Ai-Lan was appointed as a fixed-term Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh (2006), carrying out research with Prof. David Leigh. She was a Lecturer (2007-2013) and Associate Professor, Reader (2013-2024) at Heriot-Watt University before taking up her current position as Chair in Organic Chemistry at University of Edinburgh (2024). Her research interests include decarboxylative radical reactions and development of new gold-, palladium- and photo-catalysed reactions.

 

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

My first independent publication was in ChemComm: “Gold catalysed reactions with cyclopropenes” back in 2008 so the journal naturally holds a special place in my heart. The “Emerging Investigators” themed series is also an excellent way to highlight early career research around the world and we were very fortunate to have contributed to the series back in 2011 and 2013.

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

Rapid publication, efficient and rigorous peer review, concise 4-page communication format and a highly respected journal, publishing significant advancements in all areas of chemistry.

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

Efficient and fair.

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

Our publication describes the development of one thermal- and one light-mediated method for direct Minisci-type C-H amidation of 1,3-azoles, which are important scaffolds in drug design, but are more electron-rich and thus more challenging substrates compared to the more typically studied electron-poor 6-membered N-heterocycles. The light-mediated method is particularly interesting because it is does not require a photosensitiser/photocatalyst and proceeds via an electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex. We were pleased to show that the methodology is applicable to late-stage C-H amidations of 1,3-azole drug molecules.

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

We will certainly be exploring the photocatalyst-free, EDA methodology in other reactions, as there are significant cost and sustainability advantages.

 

Be sure to read Ai-Lan’s article, “Direct C–H amidation of 1,3-azoles: light-mediated, photosensitiser-free vs. thermal” to learn more!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

ChemComm’s 60th Anniversary – David Leboeuf

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 David Lebœuf (Université de Strasbourg, France) below!

​​​​​

David Lebœuf earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie (Paris 6) in 2009, under the supervision of Prof. Max Malacria. After completing two postdoctoral periods, at the University of Rochester with Prof. Alison J. Frontier (2010–2012) and at the ICIQ with Prof Antonio M. Echavarren (2012–2013), he was appointed as a CNRS researcher at the Université Paris-Saclay in 2013. In 2019, he joined the Institut de Science et d’Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS, Université de Strasbourg) before moving to the Laboratoire d’Innovation Moléculaire et Applications (LIMA, Université de Strasbourg). He currently leads the team SupraCat, where his research interests focus on the application of supramolecular chemistry to catalysis, with an emphasis on the use of fluorinated alcohol hexafluoroisopropanol and how it can be used to unlock new reactivities.

 

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

While ChemComm has evolved regarding its format of communication (from 2 to 4 pages), the strict limitation to 4 pages (references included) still allows to go straight to the point, while highlighting seminal studies in the area of research of the study disclosed. In addition, ChemComm succeeded to adapt to its time, bringing more diversity in terms of articles with “feature articles” and “highlights”, while putting more emphasis on the contribution of talented young scientists over the world through its themed collections “First Independent Articles” and “Emerging Investigators”. However, it also did not neglect more established scientists with the collection “Pioneering Investigators”.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

My two favorite things about ChemComm are, first, the fast peer-review process that allows a rapid sharing of new findings with the community and second, the fact that ChemComm kept the true spirit of communication, in which we can display new concepts and initial results without having to bend on overly extended reaction scope.

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

In my opinion, the peer-review process at ChemComm is efficient and fair. I personally like the fact that any study, that receives two conflicted reviews, gets automatically a third opinion to give a clear decision. The journal features a large panel of professional editors and well-established professors who have at heart the high quality of the science published. They are easy to discuss with and always give you useful feedbacks.

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

In this communication, we report a new strategy for the preparation of tetrahydroquinolines by mimicking the well-known Povarov reaction. This approach relies on the utilization of new set of N-benzylhydroxylamine reagents that have been made popular by the group of Morandi. These hydroxylamines enable a 1,2-aryl migration to engineer the reaction sequence and represent a complementary strategy to the traditional Povarov reaction, extending its scope to highly electronically deactivated styrenes and simple aliphatic alkenes to provide a broader chemical space regarding the tetrahydroquinolines prepared.

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

One of the key findings of our study is the possibility to engineer a radical 1,2-aryl migration from carbon to nitrogen. While, overall, reactions involving radical aryl migration are well-established processes, the one that we observed is much rarer. Now, the key is to successfully design new substrates that could enforce such process to develop methods and thus offer new synthetic paths to nitrogen-containing drugs.

 

Be sure to read David’s article, “A povarov-type reaction to access tetrahydroquinolines from N-benzylhydroxylamines and alkenes in HFIP” to learn more!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

ChemComm’s 60th Anniversary – Stephen Liddle

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!

​​​​​

  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!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

ChemComm’s 60th Anniversary – Chun-Yu Ho

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!

​​​​

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!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

ChemComm’s 60th Anniversary – Subhabrata Maiti

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!

​​​​

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!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

ChemComm’s 60th Anniversary – Philip Norcott

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!

​​​​

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!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

ChemComm’s 60th Anniversary – Artur Ciesielski

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!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

ChemComm’s 60th Anniversary – Sasidhar B. S.

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!

​​​​

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!

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)