September 2023 Chemical Science Reviews & Perspectives

Welcome to September’s Perspective & Review round up!

Our on-going 2023 Chemical Science Perspective & Review Collection showcases all of the Perspective and Review articles published in Chemical Science in 2023. You can find our 2022 collection here.

We hope you enjoy reading and as always, all of our articles are open access so you can easily share your favourites online and with your colleagues.

Explore the full collection!

 

Naphthopyran molecular switches and their emergent mechanochemical reactivity
Molly E. McFadden, Ross W. Barber, Anna C. Overholts and Maxwell J. Robb
Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 10041-10067

Synthesis of ubiquitinated proteins for biochemical and functional analysis
Julia Kriegesmann and Ashraf Brik
Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 10025-10040

From random to rational: improving enzyme design through electric fields, second coordination sphere interactions, and conformational dynamics
Shobhit S. Chaturvedi, Daniel Bím, Christo Z. Christov and Anastassia N. Alexandrova
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Carbon–carbon bond activation by Mg, Al, and Zn complexes
Joseph M. Parr and Mark R. Crimmin
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article
 

Chemical Science, Royal Society of Chemistry

Submit to Chemical Science today! Check out our author guidelines for information on our article types or find out more about the advantages of publishing in a Royal Society of Chemistry journal.

Keep up to date with our latest articles, reviews, collections & more by following us on Twitter. You can also keep informed by signing up to our E-Alerts.

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Chemical Science HOT Articles: September 2023

We are pleased to share a selection of our referee-recommended HOT articles for September 2023. We hope you enjoy reading these articles, congratulations to all the authors whose articles are featured! As always, Chemical Science is free for authors and readers.

You can explore our full 2023 Chemical Science HOT Article Collection here!

 

Browse a selection of our September HOT articles below:

Photocyclization by a triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion pair in water – avoiding UV-light and oxygen removal
R. Jeyaseelan, M. Utikal, C. G. Daniliuc and L. Næsborg
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Directing group assisted para-selective C–H alkynylation of unbiased arenes enabled by rhodium catalysis
Uttam Dutta, Gaurav Prakash, Kirti Devi, Kongkona Borah, Xinglong Zhang and Debabrata Maiti
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Pathway complexity in fibre assembly: from liquid crystals to hyper-helical gelmorphs
Rafael Contreras-Montoya, James P. Smith, Stephen C. Boothroyd, Juan A. Aguilar, Marzieh Mirzamani, Martin A. Screen, Dmitry S. Yufit, Mark Robertson, Lilin He, Shuo Qian, Harshita Kumari and Jonathan W. Steed
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Broadening the catalytic region from the cavity to windows by M6L12 nanospheres in cyclizations
Meiling Xu, Bin Sun, David A. Poole, III, Eduard O. Bobylev, Xu Jing, Jinguo Wu,a Cheng He, Chunying Duan and Joost N. H. Reek
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Time-resolved enantiomer-exchange probed by using the orbital angular momentum of X-ray light
Xiang Jiang, Yeonsig Nam, Jérémy R. Rouxel, Haiwang Yong and Shaul Mukamel
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

 

Chemical Science, Royal Society of Chemistry

Submit to Chemical Science today! Check out our author guidelines for information on our article types or find out more about the advantages of publishing in a Royal Society of Chemistry journal.

Keep up to date with our latest articles, reviews, collections & more by following us on Twitter. You can also keep informed by signing up to our E-Alerts.

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Chemical Science Reviewer Spotlight – September 2023

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

This month, we’ll be highlighting Dr Sascha Feldmann, Professor Scott Cockroft, Dr Xiyue Zhang and Professor Chuan He. We asked our reviewers a few questions about what they enjoy about reviewing, and their thoughts on how to provide a useful review.

Dr Sascha Feldmann, Harvard University. Dr Sascha Feldmann’s team combines ultrafast magneto-optical spectroscopy and materials chemistry to transform the way we produce and consume energy as a society. They work on uncovering the design rules which enable the next generation of cheap, efficient and flexible solar cells & ultra-bright displays, and unlock entirely new applications in quantum information technology.

 

 

Professor Scott Cockroft

Professor Scott Cockroft, University of Edinburgh. Professor Scott Cockroft’s group uses synthetic molecules and computational chemistry to study the origins and energetics of the interactions between molecules that make them stick together (or not!). They seek to exploit these chemical principles to construct devices from synthetic and biological molecules that can perform tasks within lipid membranes such as those surrounding living cells.

 

 

Dr Xinyue Zhang

Dr Xiyue Zhang, University of Maryland. Dr Xiyue Zhang’s research mainly focuses on electrolytes and electrodes for Li-/Na-/Zn- ion batteries and supercapacitors.

 

 

Professor Chuan He

Professor Chuan He, Southern University of Science and Technology. Professor Chuan He’s research is focused on chiral organosilicon and chiral organoboron chemistry. They are particularly interested in the construction and application of silicon-stereogenic silanes and boron-stereogenic compounds.

 

What do you enjoy most about reviewing?

Dr Sascha Feldmann: I really enjoy that reviewing a paper actually forces me to read a paper from beginning to end, thoroughly and with a critical assessment mode activated. This to be is quite different from just skimming through some published reports to search for a specific piece of information and more often than not allows me to learn something new and unexpected.

Professor Scott Cockroft: The chance to be the first to read cutting-edge research on a topic of close personal interest.

Dr Xiyue Zhang: It’s happy to get in touch with the advanced level of research in the world and see the quality of the manuscript improved through the review process.

Professor Chuan He: It is always exciting to get first-hand information on the new and cutting-edge science from reviewing.

 

What encouraged you to review for Chemical Science?

Dr Sascha Feldmann: Chemical Science for me is one of the flagship journals to find cutting edge results in the broad field of the Chemical Sciences, from fundamental synthesis reports to spectroscopy studies and device applications. Having done my PhD at Cambridge and therefore growing up with the RSC as a premier publisher in the UK, it feels only natural to now be part of the reviewing process as well.

Professor Scott Cockroft: Peer reviewing is a cornerstone of academic integrity within science. It is therefore a duty that anyone contributing to science should fulfil. I tend to agree to review articles when I am particularly interested in the topic of the submitted paper.

Dr Xiyue Zhang: Chemical Science is dedicated to publishing ground-breaking research involving novel ideas, challenging questions and progressive thinking. Review is not only a way for me to serve the community, but also a way to connect with other world leading scientists and contribute to future breakthrough.

Professor Chuan He: Chemical Science is a high-quality journal that publishes world-leading interdisciplinary research from every aspect of chemistry.

 

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

Dr Sascha Feldmann: A paper that I would recommend for acceptance in Chem Sci should above all have novelty. There are other fantastic journals inside and outside the RSC where I would find a good home for a thorough follow-up investigation on an existing project, but Chem Sci I would reserve more for those new out-of-the-box type of results to share with a broad community.

 

Do you have any advice to our readers seeking publication in Chemical Science on what makes a good paper?

Professor Scott Cockroft: Take your reader on journey of discovery. Propose hypotheses and systematically and critically test these hypotheses against your data. The result should be that we all arrive at the same convincing conclusion.

 

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

Dr Xiyue Zhang: Novel ideas, rigorous logic, and solid data.

Professor Chuan He: The author should ensure that the manuscript is well-written, logical, and follows the journal’s guidelines. Highlighting the key novelty of the work, and preparing elegant and clear figures are important. Carefully and thoroughly addressing any comments provided by the reviewers and editors during the peer review process is also crucial.

 

What has been your biggest learning point from reviewing?

Dr Sascha Feldmann: If I had to limit myself to one thing I really have started to appreciate since beginning to review, it is that clarity in writing is of utmost importance. Even if I may qualify as an expert reader and therefore have been chosen as a reviewer, my access to a scientific story will always be much more limited than that of the group who wrote the manuscript and is therefore in a deep dive that is hard to reach. Therefore, explaining your results in a simple way and with a clear writing style is something I learned myself from reviewing and try to apply to my own works as much as possible.

 

What would you recommend to new reviewers to ensure their report is helpful?

Professor Scott Cockroft: Make sure you leave enough time to properly read and understand the paper; there is nothing more frustrating than having to respond to reviewer comments that are already addressed in the paper, or based on wild misunderstandings/poor comprehension.

 

How do you balance reviewing with your other activities?

Dr Xiyue Zhang: Try to avoid procrastinating on either reviewing or other tasks. It’s essential to find a balance between productivity and relaxation.

 

Did reviewing for Chemical Science affect how you approached preparation of your recent publication with us?

Professor Chuan He: I do believe reviewing for Chemical Science provides me with valuable perspectives and experiences that shape my approach and enhance the quality of my own publication within the same journal. Putting yourself in the shoes of a reviewer is always helpful when you are preparing your own manuscript.

 

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!

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Themed collection on Emerging Frontiers in Aromaticity

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 PrB2based 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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Chemical Science HOT Articles: August 2023

We are pleased to share a selection of our referee-recommended HOT articles for August 2023. We hope you enjoy reading these articles, congratulations to all the authors whose articles are featured! As always, Chemical Science is free for authors and readers.

You can explore our full 2023 Chemical Science HOT Article Collection here!

 

Browse a selection of our August HOT articles below:

Time-resolved circular dichroism of excitonic systems: theory and experiment on an exemplary squaraine polymer
Lea Ress, Pavel Malý, Jann B. Landgraf, Dominik Lindorfer, Michael Hofer, Joshua Selby, Christoph Lambert, Thomas Renger and Tobias Brixner
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Parallel multi-droplet platform for reaction kinetics and optimization
Natalie S. Eyke, Timo N. Schneider, Brooke Jin, Travis Hart, Sebastien Monfette, Joel M. Hawkins, Peter D. Morse, Roger M. Howard, David M. Pfisterer, Kakasaheb Y. Nandiwale and Klavs F. Jensen
Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 8798-8809

Stochastic assembly of biomacromolecular complexes: impact and implications on charge interpretation in native mass spectrometry
Victor Yin, Paul W. A. Devine, Janet C. Saunders, Arjan Barendregt, Fiona Cusdin, Alexandra Ristani, Alistair Hines,c Sam Shepherd,c Marcin Dembek, Claire L. Dobson, Joost Snijder, Nicholas J. Bond and Albert J. R. Heck
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Liquid electrolyte chemistries for solid electrolyte interphase construction on silicon and lithium-metal anodes
Sewon Park, Saehun Kim, Jeong-A. Lee, Makoto Ue and Nam-Soon Choi
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Transcription between human-readable synthetic descriptions and machine-executable instructions: an application of the latest pre-training technology
Zheni Zeng, Yi-Chen Nie, Ning Ding, Qian-Jun Ding, Wei-Ting Ye, Cheng Yang, Maosong Sun, Weinan E, Rong Zhu and Zhiyuan Liu
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Understanding C–H activation in light alkanes over Cu-MOR zeolites by coupling advanced spectroscopy and temperature-programmed reduction experiments
Karoline Kvande, Beatrice Garetto, Gabriele Deplano, Matteo Signorile, Bjørn Gading Solemsli, Sebastian Prodinger, Unni Olsbye, Pablo Beato, Silvia Bordiga, Stian Svelle and Elisa Borfecchia
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

A functional unit combination strategy for enhancing red room-temperature phosphorescence
Shuaiqiang Zhao, Zhiqiang Yang, Xiangyu Zhang, Haichao Liu, Yingbo Lv, Shiyin Wang, Zhongzhao Yang, Shi-Tong Zhang and Bing Yang
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

 

Chemical Science, Royal Society of Chemistry

Submit to Chemical Science today! Check out our author guidelines for information on our article types or find out more about the advantages of publishing in a Royal Society of Chemistry journal.

Keep up to date with our latest articles, reviews, collections & more by following us on Twitter. You can also keep informed by signing up to our E-Alerts.

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August 2023 Chemical Science Reviews & Perspectives

Welcome to August’s Perspective & Review round up!

Our on-going 2023 Chemical Science Perspective & Review Collection showcases all of the Perspective and Review articles published in Chemical Science in 2023. You can find our 2022 collection here.

We hope you enjoy reading and as always, all of our articles are open access so you can easily share your favourites online and with your colleagues.

Explore the full collection!

 

Magnetically controlled assembly: a new approach to organic integrated photonics
Lixin Xu, Hao Jia, Chuang Zhang, Baipeng Yin and Jiannian Yao
Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 8723-8742

Imprinting of nanoparticles in thin films: Quo Vadis?
Din Zelikovich, Linoy Dery, Hila Sagi-Cohen and Daniel Mandler
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Halide solid-state electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries: structural design, synthesis, environmental stability, interface optimization and challenges
Boran Tao, Dailin Zhong, Hongda Li, Guofu Wang and Haixin Chang
Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 8693-8722

Transition-metal (oxy)nitride photocatalysts for water splitting
Kaihong Chen, Jiadong Xiao, Takashi Hisatomi and Kazunari Domen
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Liquid electrolyte chemistries for solid electrolyte interphase construction on silicon and lithium-metal anodes
Sewon Park, Saehun Kim, Jeong-A. Lee, Makoto Ue and Nam-Soon Choi
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

 

Chemical Science, Royal Society of Chemistry

Submit to Chemical Science today! Check out our author guidelines for information on our article types or find out more about the advantages of publishing in a Royal Society of Chemistry journal.

Keep up to date with our latest articles, reviews, collections & more by following us on Twitter. You can also keep informed by signing up to our E-Alerts.

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Themed collection on Amyloids and Protein Aggregation

We are pleased to announce our themed collection on amyloids and protein aggregation in Chemical Science, guest edited by Prof. Sara Linse, Lund University (Sweden) and Prof. Tuomas Knowles, University of Cambridge (United Kingdom). This collection highlights key mechanistic findings demystifying the process of amyloid formation.

Read our  Guest Editors’ summary and insights in the accompanying editorial.

The collection features a combination of Review, Perspective and Research Articles covering the thermodynamic, mechanistic and kinetic aspects of amyloid formation. These are studied using a diverse range of techniques including (but not limited to) NMR spectroscopy, Cryo-electron tomography, single molecule detection and computational studies. Articles in this collection also describe novel characterization and quantification strategies.

Browse the collection, which includes:


Molecular mechanisms of amyloid formation in living systems
Tessa Sinnige
Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 7080-7097, DOI: 10.1039/D2SC01278B

A perspective addressing how molecular mechanisms of amyloid formation, which have been extensively studied in test tube reactions, can apply to the complex situations in living cells and organisms.

 

Stability matters, too – the thermodynamics of amyloid fibril formation
Alexander K. Buell
Chem. Sci., 2022,13, 10177-10192, DOI: 10.1039/D1SC06782F

A review highlighting important open questions regarding the thermodynamics of amyloid formation and addressing the current state of experimental exploration.

 

Single molecule sensing of amyloid-β aggregation by confined glass nanopores
Ru-Jia Yu,  Si-Min Lu,  Su-Wen Xu,  Yuan-Jie Li, Qun Xu,  Yi-Lun Ying and  Yi-Tao Long
Chem. Sci., 2019,10, 10728-10732, DOI: 10.1039/C9SC03260F

In this research article, the authors employ a novel technique for direct sensing the amyloidosis process of Aβ1-42 peptide, of great significance in Alzheimer’s disease, using a glass nanopore.

 

Modulation of electrostatic interactions to reveal a reaction network unifying the aggregation behaviour of the Aβ42 peptide and its variants
Georg Meisl, Xiaoting Yang, Christopher M. Dobson, Sara Linse and Tuomas P. J. Knowles
Chem. Sci., 2017,8, 4352-4362, DOI: 10.1039/C7SC00215G

Here, the authors show that changes in the ionic strength of the solution leads to significant variation in the aggregation mechanism of the Aβ42 peptide, linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and they provide a means to relating the different aggregation mechanisms response to varying electrostatic interactions.

 

Understanding co-polymerization in amyloid formation by direct observation of mixed oligomers
Lydia M. Young, Ling-Hsien Tu, Daniel P. Raleigh, Alison E. Ashcroft and Sheena E. Radford
Chem. Sci., 2017,8, 5030-5040, DOI: 10.1039/C7SC00620A

In this research article, the authors observe that co-assembly into hetero-oligomers controls the lag time of amylin assembly. They relate the mechanism to that of prions.

 

Origin of metastable oligomers and their effects on amyloid fibril self-assembly
Filip Hasecke, Tatiana Miti, Carlos Perez, Jeremy Barton, Daniel Schölzel, Lothar Gremer, Clara S. R. Grüning, Garrett Matthews, Georg Meisl, Tuomas P. J. Knowles, Dieter Willbold, Philipp Neudecker, Henrike Heise, Ghanim Ullah, Wolfgang Hoyer and Martin Muschol
Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 5937-5948, DOI: 10.1039/C8SC01479E

This research article conveys how the inhibitory effects of metastable oligomers on amyloid fibril formation can be revealed by analysis of oligomer and fibril assembly kinetics simultaneously.

 

Identification of on- and off-pathway oligomers in amyloid fibril formation
Alexander J. Dear, Georg Meisl, Anđela Šarić, Thomas C. T. Michaels, Magnus Kjaergaard, Sara Linse and Tuomas P. J. Knowles
Chem. Sci., 2020,11, 6236-6247, DOI: 10.1039/C9SC06501F

A research article enabling the comparison of amyloid oligomers’ contribution to fibril formation by establishing a general non-binary definition for on- and off- pathway intermediates.

 

Atomic resolution map of the soluble amyloid beta assembly toxic surfaces
Rashik Ahmed, Michael Akcan, Adree Khondker, Maikel C. Rheinstädter, José C. Bozelli, Jr, Richard M. Epand, Vincent Huynh, Ryan G. Wylie, Stephen Boulton, Jinfeng Huang, Chris P. Verschoord and Giuseppe Melacini
Chem. Sci., 2019,10, 6072-6082, DOI: 10.1039/C9SC01331H

In this research article, the authors show an atomic resolution map of amyloid beta assembly “toxic surfaces” that facilitate the early pathogenic events in Alzheimer’s disease.

 

C-terminal truncation of α-synuclein promotes amyloid fibril amplification at physiological pH
Ingrid M. van der Wateren, Tuomas P. J. Knowles, Alexander K. Buell, Christopher M. Dobson and Céline Galvagnion
Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 5506-5516, DOI: 10.1039/C8SC01109E

Here, the authors show how the pH range at which α-synuclein secondary nucleation occurs can be shifted from acidic to neutral values by C-terminal truncation.


We hope you enjoy reading these articles and the rest in this themed collection published in Chemical Science!

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Chemical Science Reviewer Spotlight – August 2023

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

This month, we’ll be highlighting Dr Meredith Borden, Dr Isabelle Landrieu, Dr Mattia Silvi and Professor Kazuaki Ishihara. We asked our reviewers a few questions about what they enjoy about reviewing, and their thoughts on how to provide a useful review.

 

Dr Meredith Borden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Meredith Borden, Trinity University. Dr Meredith Borden works to develop new catalytic strategies for controlling polymer synthesis with visible light, and is interested in applying ideas from small molecule catalysis to challenges in polymer science.

 

Dr Mattia Silvi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Mattia Silvi, University of Nottingham. Dr Mattia Silvi’s research focuses on discovering new practical and sustainable methodologies for chemical synthesis. His group is currently developing novel visible-light mediated strategies to access reactivity that was previously elusive.

 

Dr Isabelle Landrieu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Isabelle Landrieu, University of Lille. Dr Isabelle Landrieu is interested in the tau protein, with a focus on its phosphorylation and interactions, towards the understanding of its dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease development using approaches at the interface of biology and chemistry.

 

Professor Kazuaki Ishihara

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professor Kazuaki Ishihara, Nagoya University. Professor Kazuaki Ishihara’s research is focused on the rational design of high-performance catalysts based on acid–base combination chemistry. In particular, he is interested in the catalytic use of halogen elements instead of transition metal or rare metal elements to design greener redox catalysts.

 

 

What do you enjoy most about reviewing?

Dr Meredith Borden: Reviewing gives me an opportunity to think deeply about chemistry. I appreciate the privilege of being one of the first people who has the opportunity to engage with the new and exciting research my peers are performing.

Dr Mattia Silvi: Reviewing is an opportunity to open a scientific discussion. When you review a paper, your suggestions and recommendations become part of the work. You provide a different perspective, which may complement the vision of the authors. This may lead to a significant enhancement of the overall quality of the work. It’s great to see the positive impact of your suggestions.

Dr Isabelle Landrieu: I enjoy the critical analysis that it requires. I like to confront my report to those of other reviewers of the manuscript to improve my own skills. I appreciate when I have the ability to contribute to the quality of the published article.

Professor Kazuaki Ishihara: The review of high-quality manuscripts submitted to Chem. Sci. provides an opportunity to explore new chemistry and think deeply.

 

What encouraged you to review for Chemical Science?

Dr Mattia Silvi: Chemical Science aims at publishing top-quality innovations in chemistry. As a scientist working in the field, I am happy to provide my contribution to help to maintain and enhance this outstanding level.

Dr Meredith Borden: I always enjoy reading the papers published in Chemical Science because of the breadth of chemistry they highlight so I was eager to support the journal as a reviewer. 

Professor Kazuaki Ishihara: Most manuscripts submitted to Chem. Sci. are expected to be of high quality and I enjoy reading and reviewing them. I am happy to be able to review manuscripts and contribute to making them better ones.

 

Do you have any advice to our readers seeking publication in Chemical Science on what makes a good paper?

Dr Isabelle Landrieu: For me a good paper is an argumentation consolidated by each presented rigorous experiment. I like the clarity of a single line of thought that develops an innovative idea with impact of the findings well-developed by the authors.

 

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

Dr Mattia Silvi: Originality and innovation are essential for an excellent scientific report. The first page of the paper should clearly and concisely show the originality of the paper and explain how it stands in comparison with the state-of-the-art. Images and schemes should be properly used for this purpose. Furthermore, it is fundamental that the technical aspects of the paper are well presented and correct.

Finally, probably the most valuable recommendation I can give is: discuss, discuss, discuss… Chat with your colleagues prior to submission. Let them review your draft submission. Be available to do this for them when they need it. Make sure that people reviewing your draft are honest in giving their opinion. Good science is often the result of good communication.

 

What has been your biggest learning point from reviewing?

Dr Meredith Borden: I have learned more how to present science clearly and succinctly both in the written portions of a paper and how to create captivating figures. Reviewing has really cemented for me the idea that when writing a paper, you want to make it easy for the reader to follow through clear organization and alignment of text, figures, and references.

 

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!

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Chemical Science HOT Articles: July 2023

We are pleased to share a selection of our referee-recommended HOT articles for July 2023. We hope you enjoy reading these articles, congratulations to all the authors whose articles are featured! As always, Chemical Science is free for authors and readers.

You can explore our full 2023 Chemical Science HOT Article Collection here!

 

Browse a selection of our July HOT articles below:

Impact of core–shell perovskite nanocrystals for LED applications: successes, challenges, and prospects
Samrat Das Adhikari, Andrés F. Gualdrón Reyes, Subir Paul, Jeevan Torres, Beatriu Escuder, Iván Mora-Seró and Sofia Masi
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

2,5-disubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes as rigidified cyclopentane variants
Shashwati Paul, Daniel Adelfinsky, Christophe Salome, Thomas Fessard and M. Kevin Brown
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Restriction of intramolecular rotation for functionalizing metal nanoclusters
Junsheng Xin, Jing Xu, Chen Zhu, Yupeng Tian, Qiong Zhang, Xi Kang and Manzhou Zhu
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Origin of the superior oxygen reduction activity of zirconium nitride in alkaline media
Heng Liu, Di Zhang, Stuart M. Holmes, Carmine D’Agostino and Hao Li
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Vacuum ultraviolet photodissociation of sulfur dioxide and its implications for oxygen production in the early Earth’s atmosphere
Yao Chang, Yanlin Fu, Zhichao Chen, Zijie Luo, Yarui Zhao, Zhenxing Li, Weiqing Zhang, Guorong Wu, Bina Fu, Dong H. Zhang, Michael N. R. Ashfold, Xueming Yang and Kaijun Yuan
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article
 

Chemical Science, Royal Society of Chemistry

Submit to Chemical Science today! Check out our author guidelines for information on our article types or find out more about the advantages of publishing in a Royal Society of Chemistry journal.

Keep up to date with our latest articles, reviews, collections & more by following us on Twitter. You can also keep informed by signing up to our E-Alerts.

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July 2023 Chemical Science Reviews & Perspectives

Welcome to July’s Perspective & Review round up!

Our on-going 2023 Chemical Science Perspective & Review Collection showcases all of the Perspective and Review articles published in Chemical Science in 2023. You can find our 2022 collection here.

We hope you enjoy reading and as always, all of our articles are open access so you can easily share your favourites online and with your colleagues.

Explore the full collection!

 

Recent developments in the cleavage, functionalization, and conjugation of proteins and peptides at tyrosine residues
Shengping Zhang, Luis M. De Leon Rodriguez, Freda F. Li and Margaret A. Brimble
Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 7782-7817

Diatomic catalysts for Fenton and Fenton-like reactions: a promising platform for designing/regulating reaction pathways
Fan Mo, Qixing Zhou, Chenghao Li, Zongxin Tao, Zelin Hou, Tong Zheng, Qi Wang, Shaohu Ouyang and Sihui Zhan
Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 7818-7827

Mechanics of dynamic and deformable DNA nanostructures
Ruixin Li, Anirudh S. Madhvacharyula, Yancheng Du, Harshith K. Adepu and Jong Hyun Choi
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Can we make color switchable photovoltaic windows?
Josephine L. Surel and Jeffrey A. Christians
Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 7828-7841

Impact of core–shell perovskite nanocrystals for LED applications: successes, challenges, and prospects
Samrat Das Adhikari, Andrés F. Gualdrón Reyes, Subir Paul, Jeevan Torres, Beatriu Escuder, Iván Mora-Seró and Sofia Masi
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Metallated dihydropyridinates: prospects in hydride transfer and (electro)catalysis
Leo W. T. Parsons and Louise A. Berben
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

Opportunities and challenges of protein-based targeted protein degradation
Fangfang Shen and Laura M. K. Dassama
Chem. Sci., 2023, Advance Article

 

Chemical Science, Royal Society of Chemistry

Submit to Chemical Science today! Check out our author guidelines for information on our article types or find out more about the advantages of publishing in a Royal Society of Chemistry journal.

Keep up to date with our latest articles, reviews, collections & more by following us on Twitter. You can also keep informed by signing up to our E-Alerts.

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)