Chemistry 2.0: Developing a New, Solvent-Free System of Chemical Synthesis Based on Mechanochemistry

Mechanochemistry by grinding or milling has grown from a laboratory curiosity to a versatile approach for the synthesis and discovery of molecules, materials and reactivity. Focusing on organic synthesis and the chemistry of organic solids in general, we now provide a snapshot of this exciting, rapidly developing area, with the intention to illustrate its potential in establishing a more efficient and environmentally friendly system of chemical and materials synthesis, based on solid-state transformations rather than conventional, solution-dependent chemistry.

1 What is Chemistry 2.0?

2 Introduction

2.1 Why Mechanochemistry Now?

2.2 What’s in a Mechanochemistry Laboratory?

3 Liquid-Assisted Grinding (LAG): Controlling Mechanochemistry

4 The Solvent-Free Research Laboratory

5 Medicinal Mechanochemistry

6 Exploring Molecular Recognition

7 Some Myths to Dispel

8 Catalytic Reactions by Mechanochemistry

8.1 Catalysis and Reactivity Involving Bulk Metals

8.2 Enzyme Catalysis in Mechanochemistry

8.3 Coupling of Mechanochemistry, Photochemistry and Supramolecular Catalysis

9 Organometallic Mechanochemistry

10 New Opportunities

10.1 Stoichiometric Control

10.2 ‘Impossible’ Molecules

10.3 Reaction Discovery by Mechanochemistry

11 Energetics of Mechanochemistry

12 Mechanistic Understanding

13 Real-Time Reaction Monitoring

14 Conclusions