We are delighted to announce our themed collection in Chemical Science on Emerging Frontiers in Aromaticity. Guest edited by Prof. Gabriel Merino, Cinvestav Mérida (Mexico), Prof. Miquel Solà, Universitat de Girona (Spain), and Prof. Israel Fernández, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain), this collection highlights the most recent methodological developments and unique aspects of aromaticity.

Read the guest editor’s insights and summary of the collection in the accompanying editorial.

The collection features a combination of Review, Perspective, Focus and Edge articles covering a variety of topics within the field of aromaticity, including metalla-aromaticity, macrocyclic aromaticity, 3D-aromaticity, Möbius aromaticity, and the aromaticity of polycyclic conjugated hydrocarbons and nanographenes.

Browse the collection, including:

Aromaticity: Quo Vadis
Gabriel Merino, Miquel Solà, Israel Fernández, Cina Foroutan-Nejad, Paolo Lazzeretti, Gernot Frenking, Harry L. Anderson, Dage Sundholm, Fernando P. Cossío, Marina A. Petrukhina, Jishan Wu, Judy I. Wu and Albeiro Restrepo
Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 5569-5576, DOI: 10.1039/D2SC04998H

In this Perspective article, the authors aim to reflect where the aromaticity community is currently, and where it is going.

Synthesis of octagon-containing molecular nanocarbons

Greco González Miera, Satoshi Matsubara, Hideya Kono, Kei Murakami and Kenichiro Itami
Chem. Sci., 2022,13, 1848-1868, DOI: 10.1039/D1SC05586K

This Review describes the synthetic achievements that the scientific community has performed to obtain curved polycyclic nanocarbons with 8-membered rings, building blocks that could potentially give access as templates to larger nanographenes, and eventually to Mackay-Terrones crystals.

A focus on aromaticity: fuzzier than ever before?

Henrik Ottosson

Chem. Sci., 2023,14, 5542-5544, DOI: 10.1039/D3SC90075D

In this Focus article, the author poses the question: Who utilises the aromaticity concept, and who benefits from it? Especially, who benefits from it being overly fuzzy, and who goes the opposite?

The smallest 4f-metalla-aromatic molecule of cyclo-PrB₂⁻ with Pr–B multiple bonds

Zhen-Ling Wang, Teng-Teng Chen, Wei-Jia Chen, Wan-Lu Li, Jing Zhao, Xue-Lian Jiang, Jun Li, Lai-Sheng Wang and Han-Shi Hu

Chem. Sci., 2022,13, 10082-10094, DOI: 10.1039/D2SC02852B

The authors report the discovery of a doubly aromatic triatomic lanthanide-boron molecule PrB₂⁻ based on a joint photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical investigation in this Edge article.

Aromatic heterobicycle-fused porphyrins: impact on aromaticity and excited state electron transfer leading to long-lived charge separation

Austen Moss, Youngwoo Jang, Jacob Arvidson, Vladimir N. Nesterov, Francis D’Souza and Hong Wang

Chem. Sci., 2022,13, 9880-9890, DOI: 10.1039/D2SC03238D

This Edge article reports a new synthetic method to fuse benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoindole to the porphyrin periphery at the β,β-positions, and its impact on the aromaticity and electronic structures is investigated.

Substituent effects on aromatic interactions in water

Gloria Tobajas-Curiel, Qingqing Sun, Jeremy K. M. Sanders, Pablo Ballester and Christopher A. Hunter

Chem. Sci., 2023,14, 6226-6236, DOI: 10.1039/D3SC01027A

In this Edge article, the authors describe a supramolecular system for measuring aromatic interactions in water and show that substituents have a remarkable effect on interaction strength, with an increase of three orders of magnitude in the stability of a complex when a single nitro group is added to one of the aromatic rings.

Mining anion–aromatic interactions in the Protein Data Bank

Emilia Kuzniak-Glanowska, Michał Glanowski, Rafał Kurczab, Andrzej J. Bojarski and Robert Podgajny

Chem. Sci., 2022,13, 3984-3998, DOI: 10.1039/D2SC00763K

The authors of this Edge article introduce the first comprehensive analysis of non-redundant Protein Data Bank (PDB) macromolecular structures investigating anion distributions around all aromatic molecules in available biosystems, including ligands.

We hope you enjoy reading this themed collection in Chemical Science!

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• encourage fair and rigorous peer review
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Transparent peer review is compatible with both single- and double-anonymised peer review. And if you are a reviewer, you will stay anonymous during the process by default. As an author, you can opt in for transparent peer review at any stage before publication.

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Reproducibility is a key part of the open access picture for Chemical Science. We encourage our authors to make sure that the data in publications is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable), and we also ask authors to provide a data availability statement in their article. This can improve research culture by:

• supporting the validity of data and maintaining research reproducibility
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• provide transparency about who contributed to the research and in what capacity. It allows readers to understand the specific roles of each author in the study, which can be helpful for assessing the validity and reliability of the research findings. 
• promote inclusion and diversity by acknowledging the different types of contributions made by each author. 
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What does it mean to be diamond open access?

Chemical Science is an innovative journal made up of people who are passionate about chemistry. We are always thinking of new ways to support you and build upon our purpose – to help the chemical science community make the world a better place.

To aid this mission, we believe that opening up research to everyone is crucial. The work we publish is impactful. It can inspire new discoveries, change how people look at the planet, and challenge standard thinking. Everyone deserves to have access to this research as it could benefit us all, and this is why Chemical Science has been open access since 2015.

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This is ChemSci’s back story, and why we publish your research diamond open access.

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Our peer reviewers have a significant impact on the work we publish, helping us make sure that every article is accurate and of high quality. Our blog series, Reviewer Spotlight, recognises this important work and highlights some of the benefits of being a reviewer.

If you have ever been interested in becoming a reviewer, we recommend reading some of our blog posts. You can learn what our reviewers enjoy about assessing research and how this work contributes to their career paths.

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From all of us here at Chemical Science, we would like to wish you a Happy Year of the Rabbit! In celebration we are delighted to present a special collection of our most popular recent articles, highlighting the work of authors from across China.

You can find the full collection here and we have highlighted a selection of these below.

Read our Chinese New Year collection here

We also have four dedicated Chinese Associate Editors: Prof. Jinlong Gong at Tianjin University, Prof. Zaiping Guo at the University of Adelaide, Prof. Ning Jiao at Peking University and Prof. Yi-Tao Long at Nanjing University. Professor Gong is interested in heterogeneous catalysis and kinetics with a focus on catalytic conversions of small molecules, production of hydrogen energy, and syntheses and applications of nanostructured catalytic materials. Professor Guo’s research interests include the design and application of electrode materials and electrolyte for energy storage and conversion, including rechargeable batteries, hydrogen storage, and fuel cells. Professor Jiao’s current research efforts are focused on new methodology development in atom-incorporation reactions, first-row transition metal catalysis and inert chemical bonds functionalization, and the synthesis of bioactive compounds and drug discovery. Professor Long is interested in the development of new electrochemical measurement methods to reveal the characteristics and dynamics of single entities.   Prof. Jinlong Gong Prof. Zaiping Guo Prof. Ning Jiao Prof. Yi-Tao Long

We hope you enjoy reading this selection of articles from our collection celebrating the Chinese New Year.

Recently, Chemical Science author Professor E. W. Bert Meijer (Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands) sent us a video which showcased his first paper published in Chemical Science ‘Macrocyclization of enzyme-based supramolecular polymers, Chem. Sci., 2010,1, 79-88’ (https://doi.org/10.1039/C0SC00108B).

His paper was also the first paper published online in Chemical Science when the journal launched in 2010.

Thanks to Professor Meijer for sharing the video with us!

Keep up to date with our latest articles, reviews, collections & more by following us on Twitter. You can share your first Chemical Science publication by posting on Twitter with the hashtag #MyFirstChemSci.

To further thank and recognise the support from our excellent reviewer community, we showcase reviewers who have provided exceptional support to the journal over the past year.

This month, we are highlighting Christoforos Kokotos, Joanna Wencel-Delord, Rosana Álvarez Rodríguez and Joaquin Barroso. We asked our reviewers a few questions about what they enjoy about reviewing, their experiences with Chemical Science and also for some tips about how to provide a useful review and also what they look for in a manuscript.

Christoforos Kokotos, University of Athens.  The research group of Christoforos focuses on asymmetric organocatalysis, the organocatalytic activation of small molecules, like H₂O­₂, for oxidation reactions and organic photochemistry, especially applications in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, or the discovery of novel medicinal agents.

Joanna Wencel-Delord, University of Strasbourg. Joanna is interested in developing original, straightforward, and efficient synthetic routes to construct complex (chiral) molecules. Her research focuses on various approaches such as C-H activation, 3d-metal catalysis, and the chemistry of rare hypervalent compounds.

Rosana Álvarez Rodríguez, University of Vigo.  Rosana’s research focuses on stereoselective synthesis of biologically active natural products through the use of novel synthetic tools with their mechanisms studied through both experimental and computational techniques.

Joaquin Barroso, National Autonomous University of Mexico. Joaquin’s group uses computers to pose and solve the appropriate equations that describe the chemical reality of various phenomena, with an emphasis in trying to understand how molecules transfer energy between them once they absorb sunlight during photosynthesis.

What encouraged you to review for Chemical Science?

Christoforos Kokotos:  Chemical Science is a high-quality interdisciplinary journal that publishes cutting edge research, and usually publishes research that I am highly interested in. Reviewing gives you the opportunity to help the authors improve their work and as a reviewer you can ask for clarifications in points that are not clear in the original submission. Also, I have a special connection to Chemical Science, since I was a member of David MacMillan’s group during the period that Chemical Science was preparing to get launched and I remember the excitement and thrill in the research group. [Editor’s note: David MacMillan was the first Editor-in-Chief of Chemical Science and worked closely with the team for the launch of the journal]

Rosana Álvarez Rodríguez: Chemical Science is a scientific journal of international prestige that publishes full articles of high impact. I especially like the Edge article format and the broad selection of published articles.

What do you enjoy most about reviewing?

Joanna Wencel-Delord: What I enjoy the most is to take time to carefully think about projects of other people and having the possibility to give some suggestions and request additional explanations. I also find that the reviewing process also helps you to grow as scientist and gain more experience.

What are you looking for in a paper that you can recommend for acceptance in Chemical Science?

Joanna Wencel-Delord: What I’m really looking for, is to be somehow surprised by the originality of concepts and unprecedented reactivity or properties presented in a clear manner and supported by solid experimental evidence. And, I would say that a well written and nicely illustrated introduction specifying the underlying project is one of the cornerstones.

Joaquin Barroso: Clarity. We all do research based on our own interests and ideas, so for me it’s never about ranking or comparing manuscripts for which one is better. Thus, when a manuscript is written in such a way that one can trek and journey along with the authors through their train of thought, and become convinced about their conclusions, that’s when I become excited about reading a manuscript.

What advice would you give a first-time author looking to maximise their chances of successful peer review?

Christoforos Kokotos:  First-time authors are always helped by advice given by senior colleagues. This helped me a lot at the beginning of my career. So, do seek advice from senior colleagues. The introduction part is extremely crucial and authors should provide a thorough overview of the field and present, in a clear manner, the goals of their study and how it correlates with existing knowledge. Also, I usually find a scheme at the beginning which summarizes previous work and current work extremely helpful, especially if it shows how current work improves and solves problems existing in the literature.

Rosana Álvarez Rodríguez: I think that the most important thing in a good article is scientific rigour, clarity when describing the result, and novelty. A good article should also be easy to read.

How has your approach to peer reviewing changed over time?

Joanna Wencel-Delord:  Over time I have been putting growing importance on fair and balanced citations of the previous contributions in the field and clear statements of the novelty and originality of the submitted manuscripts.

A final specific question for Joaquin Barroso, whose blog helped me immensely when I was studying for my PhD in computational chemistry; Have you found the experience of providing information, tutorials and guides on your blog helpful when reviewing papers? For example, with determining how to communicate points or suggest improvements for a paper?

Joaquin Barroso: Absolutely, I know how hard it is to make a point come across. In my blog I try to teach people how to perform various kinds of calculations in computational chemistry, so clarity, brevity, and specificity are key.

Tune in next month to meet our next group of #ChemSciReviewers!

If you want to learn more about how we support our reviewers, check out our Reviewer Hub.

Interested in joining our ever-growing reviewer community? Apply here now!