n8n Workflow: Check Manuscript References for Retractions (Crossref, Gmail)

Stop retracted citations before they reach publication

This n8n workflow automatically checks a manuscript’s reference list against Crossref (including Retraction Watch data) and doi.org, flags problematic citations, and drafts editor-facing integrity memos and author queries—then emails the report using Gmail.

What this workflow does

• Receives submissions via a header-authenticated webhook: A POST request sends a manuscript ID, submitter email, and references list.
• Validates, normalizes, and de-duplicates: The workflow cleans the input, removes duplicate references, and reuses a recent closed result or returns an already-open case for the same manuscript when applicable.
• Checks each citation in Crossref: Using the Crossref API (or a Crossref bibliographic search when no DOI is provided), it flags issues such as retractions, expressions of concern, corrections, DOI/citation mismatches, duplicates, and unresolved references.
• Verifies missing Crossref DOIs: If a DOI isn’t found in Crossref, it queries the doi.org handle API to distinguish non-Crossref registrations from potentially non-existent (potentially fabricated) DOIs.
• Generates review outputs with OpenAI: When integrity review is needed, an OpenAI agent produces a structured editor memo and draft author queries (including Crossref and OpenAlex lookups).
• Email delivery with Gmail: The report is emailed to the editor in Gmail.
• Stores outcomes and supports weekly re-checks: Editor decisions are collected via a form (optionally requiring integrity-officer approval to keep blocking references). Results are written to n8n Data Tables, and accepted manuscripts are re-checked weekly.

Use cases

• Journal or conference editorial pipelines that need reference integrity checks at submission time.
• Integrity teams automating retraction screening across large batches of manuscripts.
• SaaS operators building submission workflows that reduce manual verification work.

Technical details

• Workflow nodes: if, set, code, wait, gmail, merge
• External systems: Crossref API (plus Crossref bibliographic search), Retraction Watch data (via Crossref coverage), doi.org handle API, OpenAI agent with Crossref and OpenAlex lookups
• Data storage: n8n Data Tables for case tracking and outcomes