Molecules is a peer‑reviewed, open‑access scientific journal that publishes original research articles, reviews, and communications in the fields of chemistry and molecular sciences. The journal is published by MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute) and operates under a continuous publication model, making articles available online as soon as they are accepted.
History
Molecules was launched in 1996 by Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI), originally as a print journal covering various aspects of molecular chemistry. In 2002 MDPI transitioned to an online, open‑access publishing model, and Molecules became one of the publisher’s flagship journals. The journal has been published continuously since its inception.
Scope and content
The journal’s stated scope includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:
- Organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry
- Medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry
- Biochemistry and molecular biology
- Materials chemistry and nanoscience
- Chemical engineering and process chemistry
Molecules publishes experimental, theoretical, and computational studies, as well as methodological advances and interdisciplinary work that bridges chemistry with related scientific disciplines.
Publication model
Molecules follows an open‑access model in which all articles are freely available to readers under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Authors are required to pay an article processing charge (APC) to cover publication costs. The journal employs a single‑blind peer‑review process, and manuscripts are processed and published continuously online after acceptance.
Abstracting and indexing
The journal is indexed in major bibliographic databases, including:
- Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science)
- Scopus
- PubMed/MEDLINE
- Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS)
These indexes ensure that articles published in Molecules are widely discoverable within the scientific community.
Impact factor
According to the 2022 Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate Analytics), Molecules has an impact factor of 4.927. The journal’s citation metrics place it among the higher‑impact outlets in the broad field of chemistry and molecular science.
Editorial structure
Molecules is overseen by an international editorial board comprising researchers from universities and research institutions worldwide. The board members are responsible for managing the peer‑review process and ensuring the scientific quality of published content.
Access and licensing
All content is freely accessible online without subscription barriers. Articles are published under the CC BY license, which permits redistribution, adaptation, and commercial use provided proper attribution is given to the original authors.
Publisher
MDPI, based in Basel, Switzerland, is a for‑profit academic publisher that operates a large portfolio of open‑access journals across multiple scientific disciplines. MDPI’s publishing model emphasizes rapid dissemination of research findings through continuous online publication.