What is the basic ACS format for citing a patent?

The format is: Inventor(s). Patent Title. Patent Country, Patent Number (Issue Date). Use the inventor's name, patent title, country code, patent number, and date the patent was issued.

How do I cite a pending patent or patent application?

Format: Inventor(s). Patent Title. Patent Country, Patent Application Number (Filing Date). For pending patents, use the application number and filing date instead of issue date.

Should I include the assignee company name in the patent citation?

No, the inventor's name is the primary element in ACS patent citations. You may include assignee information parenthetically if needed for clarification.

How to Cite a Patent in ACS Format

Understanding Patent Citations in ACS

Patents represent important sources of chemical innovation and scientific advancement. The ACS style provides specific guidelines for citing patents, which is essential in chemistry research where patented processes and compounds are frequently discussed. Proper patent citations acknowledge inventors’ contributions.

Basic Patent Citation Format

The standard ACS format for patents is: Inventor(s); Patent Title; Patent Country Patent Number, Issue Date.

Include the inventor’s name(s), the italicized patent title, the country code, the patent number, and the date the patent was issued.

U.S. Patent Citation

A standard U.S. patent citation:

Smith, J.; Johnson, M. Organic Compounds and Methods of Synthesis. U.S. Patent 10,234,567, Apr 22, 2024.

The “U.S. Patent” designation indicates a United States patent; the number and issue date follow.

Multiple Inventor Patent

For patents with multiple inventors:

Williams, R.; Chen, S.; Brown, J. Novel Catalytic Processes for Chemical Synthesis. U.S. Patent 9,876,543, Oct 15, 2023.

List all inventors in the order they appear on the patent.

International Patent

For patents from other countries:

Mueller, K.; Schmidt, H. Pharmaceutical Formulations and Delivery Systems. German Patent DE 2,234,567, July 8, 2023.

Include the country code or country name followed by the patent number.

Patent Application Citation

For pending patents not yet issued:

Garcia, M.; Lopez, J. Advanced Materials for Electronics. U.S. Patent Application 2024/0,123,456, filed March 15, 2024.

Use “Patent Application” and include the filing date for applications.

In-Text Citations for Patents

For in-text citations in ACS format, use numbered superscript citations:

This compound was synthesized according to a patented procedure.¹

The number corresponds to the patent citation in the reference list.

Examples for Different Patent Types

Chemical Process Patent

Johnson, M.; Williams, K. Methods for Polymer Synthesis Using Green Chemistry. U.S. Patent 10,123,456, June 5, 2024.

Pharmaceutical Patent

Smith, J.; Anderson, R.; Chen, L. Anti-inflammatory Compounds and Pharmaceutical Compositions. U.S. Patent 9,987,654, Feb 12, 2024.

Materials Science Patent

Brown, S.; Lee, T. Nanocomposite Materials with Enhanced Properties. U.S. Patent 10,456,789, Sept 18, 2023.

International Patent Application

Martinez, C.; Rodriguez, G. Catalytic Converters and Methods. International Patent WO 2024/001,234, Jan 25, 2024.

Citing Specific Claims in Patents

When referencing particular claims:

According to claim 5 of U.S. Patent 10,234,567, the compound has the following properties…

You can reference specific claims when citing novel aspects of a patent.

Patent Number Formats

Different patent number formats:

U.S. Patent: 10,234,567 (large numbers with commas)
European Patent: EP 2,345,678
International Patent: WO 2024/001,234
German Patent: DE 2,345,678
Chinese Patent: CN 102,345,678

Include the appropriate country designation or code.

Using GenText for Patent Citations

GenText streamlines patent citation in ACS format by organizing inventor information, patent numbers, and issue dates. The tool helps ensure proper patent identification and formatting.

Finding Patents

Locating patent documents:

Google Patents (patents.google.com)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (uspto.gov)
European Patent Office (espacenet.com)
World Intellectual Property Organization (wipo.int)
National patent office websites for other countries

Common Citation Elements

Essential elements for patent citations:

Inventor(s) names
Patent title
Country designation or code
Patent number
Issue date or filing date
Patent type (utility, design, etc.)

Common Citation Mistakes

Missing patent number: Always include the complete patent number.
Incorrect date format: Use Month Day, Year format (Apr 22, 2024).
Wrong country code: Verify the correct country designation.
Incomplete inventor list: Include all inventors in the order they appear.

Patent vs. Published Research

Patents represent intellectual property claims but may not yet be published in peer-reviewed literature. If the same technology appears in both a patent and a journal article, you may cite both.

When to Cite Patents in Chemistry Research

Patents are important sources for:

Chemical synthesis procedures
Patented compounds and formulations
Industrial chemistry processes
Pharmaceutical and materials innovations
Intellectual property discussions

Patent Citation and Confidentiality

Published patents are public information. Unpublished patent applications may have confidentiality restrictions. Always cite published patents unless discussing confidential application details.

By following ACS guidelines for patent citations, you acknowledge inventors’ contributions and enable readers to access detailed technical information about patented innovations.