The past decade has seen a reawakening of solid-state approaches to chemical synthesis, driven by the search for new, cleaner synthetic methodologies. Mechanochemistry, i.e., chemical transformations initiated or sustained by mechanical force, has been advancing particularly rapidly, from a laboratory curiosity to a widely applicable technique that not only enables a cleaner route to chemical transformations but offers completely new opportunities in making and screening for molecules and materials. This Outlook provides a brief overview of the recent achievements and opportunities created by mechanochemistry, including access to materials, molecular targets, and synthetic strategies that are hard or even impossible to access by conventional means.

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acscentsci.6b00277

Mechanochemistry: A Force of Synthesis

Mechanochemistry is becoming more widespread as a technique for molecular synthesis with new mechanochemical reactions being discovered at increasing frequency. Whilst mechanochemical methods are solvent free and can therefore lead to improved sustainability metrics, it is more likely that the significant differences between reaction outcomes, reaction selectivities and reduced reaction times will make it a technique of interest to synthetic chemists. Herein, we provide an overview of mechanochemistry reaction examples, with ‘direct’ comparators to solvent based reactions, which collectively seemingly show that solid state grinding can lead to reduced reaction times, different reaction outcomes in product selectivity and in some instances different reaction products, including products not accessible in solution.

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Mechanochemistry as an emerging tool for molecular synthesis: what can it offer?

Mechanochemistry of inorganic solids is a well-established field. In the last decade mechanical treatment has become increasingly popular as a method for achieving selective and “greener” syntheses also in organic systems. New groups and researchers enter the field of mechanochemistry, often re-discovering many of the previously known facts and effects, while at the same time neglecting other important concepts. The author of this contribution has long been involved in mechanochemical research in both inorganic and organic systems. The aim of this contribution is to provide an overview of the basic concepts of mechanochemistry in relation to inorganic and organic systems.

Mechanochemistry of inorganic and organic systems: what is similar, what is different?

Foreword Acknowledgements Definitions of symbols used 1. Some fundamentals 2. The harmonic approximation and lattice dynamics of very simple systems 3. Dynamics of diatomic crystals: general principles 4. How far do the atoms move? 5. Lattice dynamics and thermodynamics 6. Formal description 7. Acoustic modes and macroscopic elasticity 8. Anharmonic effects and phase transitions 9. Neutron scattering 10. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy 11. Formal quantum mechanical description of lattice vibrations 12. Molecular dynamics simulations Appendices Problems Bibliography Index.

Introduction to Lattice Dynamics

Theory of complex spectra.

Designing Dual Mechanical Response in Molecular Crystals through Cocrystallization

Dess‐martin periodinane: The reactivity of a λ5‐iodane catalyst explained by topological analysis

Ein mechanistischer Blick auf plastisch flexible Koordinationspolymere

The effect of water on the mechanochemical synthesis in the glycine–malonic acid system has been studied in different types of devices. Comparative studies of the hygroscopicity of the reagents and products made it possible to rationalize the inhibiting effect of water vapor and the difference in the reaction course in impact and shear devices and in devices providing both action modes. The importance of control of ambient humidity for mechanochemical reactions on the laboratory and industrial scales has been illustrated.

Inhibition of organic mechanochemical synthesis by water vapor

The very strong Lewis acid aluminium chlorofluoride (ACF) was loaded with anhydrous HF. The interaction between the surface of the catalyst and HF was investigated using a variety of characterization methods, which revealed the formation of polyfluorides. Moreover, the reactivity of the HF-loaded ACF towards the hydrofluorination of alkynes was studied.

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Adam A. L. Michalchuk

Papers

Designing Dual Mechanical Response in Molecular Crystals through Cocrystallization

Dess‐martin periodinane: The reactivity of a λ5‐iodane catalyst explained by topological analysis

Ein mechanistischer Blick auf plastisch flexible Koordinationspolymere

Inhibition of organic mechanochemical synthesis by water vapor

A HF Loaded Lewis-Acidic Aluminium Chlorofluoride for Hydrofluorination Reactions.