*"Theory of thermal unimolecular reactions in the fall-off range. II. Weak collision rate constants". RG Gilbert, K Luther, J Troe, Ber Bunsenges Phys Chem, 87, 169–77 (1982)
::(How the pressure dependence of a major class of chemical reactions can be fitted and extrapolated; widely used in atmospheric and combustion modelling.)
*Theory of unimolecular and recombination reactions. RG Gilbert, SC Smith. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications (1990), 364 pp
::(Set out a major process in chemical kinetics, including many of his discoveries.)
*"Critically evaluated rate coefficients for free-radical polymerization. 1. Propagation rate coefficients for styrene". M Buback, RG Gilbert, RA Hutchinson, B Klumperman, F-D Kuchta, BG Manders, KF O’Driscoll, GT Russell, J Schweer. Macromol. Chem. Phys., 196, 3267–80 (1995) (authors in alphabetical order)
::(One of a series of papers from an IUPAC Working Party that Gilbert created and led, which established reliability criteria for what is now a widely used technique for measuring the propagation rate coefficient that controls the speed of polymer growth.)
*"The entry of free radicals into latex particles in emulsion polymerization". IA Maxwell, BR Morrison, DH Napper, RG Gilbert, Macromolecules, 24, 1629–40 (1991)
::(Discovery of the mechanism of an important process in this major industrial process.)
*Emulsion polymerization: a mechanistic approach. RG Gilbert. London: Academic Press (1995), 362pp
::(Basic mechanisms in this major industrial process, including many of his discoveries.)
*"Molecular weight distributions in free-radical polymerizations. Understanding the effects of chain-length-dependent termination". PA Clay, RG Gilbert. Macromolecules, 28, 552–69 (1995)
::(How microscopic events govern a major determinant of properties in this widely used process.)
*"A priori prediction of propagation rate coefficients in free radical polymerizations: propagation of ethylene". JPA Heuts, RG Gilbert, L Radom. Macromolecules, 28, 8771–81 (1995)
::(How the sizes of rate coefficients for polymer growth can be understood in terms of basic quantum mechanics.)
*"Pulsed-laser polymerization measurements of the propagation rate coefficient for butyl acrylate". RA Lyons, J Hutovic, MC Piton, DI Christie, PA Clay, BG Manders, SH Kable, RG Gilbert. Macromolecules, 29, 1918–27 (1996)
::(The first measure of the propagation rate coefficient for a widely used monomer, showing that it is 100 times faster than previously assumed; now used for the improved design of certain manufacturing processes.)
*"Effective ab initio emulsion polymerization under RAFT control". CJ Ferguson, RJ Hughes, BTT Pham, BS Hawkett, RG Gilbert, AK Serelis, CH Such. Macromolecules, 35, 9243–45 (2002)
::(How a new technique of making polymers can be implemented in the commonest industrial manufacturing process; the basis of a new generation of paints soon to be on the market.)
*"Mechanistic information from analysis of molecular weight distributions of starch". JV Castro, C Dumas, H Chiou, MA Fitzgerald, RG Gilbert, Biomacromolecules, 6, 2248–59 (2005)
::(How molecular weight data on starch can be plotted to reveal biosynthetic pathways and structure–property relations.)