{"title":"Moving mechanochemistry forward: mechanocatalysis","authors":"Ferdi Schüth and Claudia Weidenthaler","doi":"10.1039/D6MR90005D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6MR90005D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >A graphical abstract is available for this content</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 141-143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d6mr90005d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Normanda Brown, Yogendra Nailwal, Tyra Blair, Ziad Alsudairy, Qingsong Zhang, Krystal Kennedy, Yi Liu, Xinle Li
{"title":"Amorphous-to-crystalline transformation: a mechanochemical pathway to imine-linked covalent organic frameworks.","authors":"Normanda Brown, Yogendra Nailwal, Tyra Blair, Ziad Alsudairy, Qingsong Zhang, Krystal Kennedy, Yi Liu, Xinle Li","doi":"10.1039/d5mr00161g","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d5mr00161g","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Amorphous-to-crystalline transformation is of profound importance in the crystallization of covalent organic frameworks (COFs), yet its potential through solid-state mechanochemistry remains largely unexplored. Here, we introduce a mechanochemical amorphous-to-crystalline pathway to synthesize imine-linked COFs under ambient conditions. By ball milling their amorphous progenitors, nine imine-linked COFs with distinct core structures, topologies (<b>hcb</b>, <b>sql</b>, <b>kgm</b>, and <b>dia</b>), and dimensions are constructed in as little as one hour. Notably, the unique advantage of this method is highlighted by the successful synthesis of a highly crystalline, porous pyrene-based COF inaccessible by <i>de novo</i> mechanosynthesis. A mechanochemical \"scrambling\" reaction of imine-based model compounds confirms the high reversibility of the imine bonds in the solid state, which is crucial for facilitating error correction during COF reconstruction. This study underscores mechanochemistry as an effective means for amorphous-to-crystalline transformation, establishing a facile, generic, and green pathway to imine-linked COFs, including those unattainable <i>via</i> conventional <i>de novo</i> mechanosynthesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12869355/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146128393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marisol F Rappen, Justus Mäder, Tino Schwemin, Sven Grätz, Lars Borchardt
{"title":"The role of ball mass, surface, and contact dynamics in mechanochemical reactions.","authors":"Marisol F Rappen, Justus Mäder, Tino Schwemin, Sven Grätz, Lars Borchardt","doi":"10.1039/d5mr00146c","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d5mr00146c","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this work, the influence of milling ball properties on energy transfer and mixing efficiency was systematically investigated by decoupling mass, surface area, and kinetic energy. To achieve this, hollow and solid balls of different sizes were employed, allowing independent variation of these parameters. Additionally, cylindrical and round-ended milling tools were additionally used to study the effects of surface geometry and contact dynamics. Yield normalization by energy input, ball mass, and surface area enables clearer correlation between individual ball characteristics and milling efficiency. This approach provides a more detailed understanding of how individual mechanical properties contribute to overall process performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12863241/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146115339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Leon Poljanić, Tom Leyssens, Laurent Collard and Daniel M. Baier
{"title":"When chirality breaks: mechanochemical degradation of biaryl atropisomers","authors":"Leon Poljanić, Tom Leyssens, Laurent Collard and Daniel M. Baier","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00132C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00132C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >We investigated the stereochemical stability of biaryl atropisomers under conditions typically employed in organic mechanosynthesis. Systematic variation of reaction parameters revealed three degradation pathways: racemisation, cyclisation, and oligomerisation. This previously overlooked behaviour critically impacts catalytic performance in asymmetric synthesis, highlighting the need for rigorous stability assessment during mechanochemical reactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 218-223"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00132c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tomislav Stolar, Dilara Bayram, Anastasia May, Remie Sundermann, Carsten Prinz, Klas Meyer, Anett Myxa, Jana Falkenhagen and Franziska Emmerling
{"title":"Selective mechanochemical conversion of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate waste into hcp and fcu UiO-66 metal–organic frameworks†","authors":"Tomislav Stolar, Dilara Bayram, Anastasia May, Remie Sundermann, Carsten Prinz, Klas Meyer, Anett Myxa, Jana Falkenhagen and Franziska Emmerling","doi":"10.1039/D4MR00126E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MR00126E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Single-use plastics strongly contribute to plastic pollution, and less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled globally. Here, we present a selective mechanochemical protocol for converting post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) transparent bottles and coloured textile waste into the porous metal–organic framework (MOF) UiO-66 materials. We used time-resolved <em>in situ</em> (TRIS) synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy to monitor the depolymerization of PET during ball milling. To convert disodium terephthalate to UiO-66, we developed base and base-free synthetic routes that lead to fcu and hcp UiO-66 phases, respectively, including the first ever synthesis of hcp UiO-66 by mechanochemistry. Our results demonstrate the potential of mechanochemistry to selectively access fcu and hcp UiO-66 phases using post-consumer PET waste.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 293-300"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d4mr00126e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammed Ali Dheyab, Wesam Abdullah, Sara Abdulwahab, Sadeen Metib Alsarayreh, Mothana Hussein Tarawneh, Mutaz Mohammad Alsardi, Mansour A. Alanazi and Azlan Abdul Aziz
{"title":"Force-driven architectonics of inorganic nanomaterials: pathways to smart and functional interfaces","authors":"Mohammed Ali Dheyab, Wesam Abdullah, Sara Abdulwahab, Sadeen Metib Alsarayreh, Mothana Hussein Tarawneh, Mutaz Mohammad Alsardi, Mansour A. Alanazi and Azlan Abdul Aziz","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00116A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00116A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The deliberate structuring of inorganic nanomaterials through mechanical forces offers a powerful alternative to conventional synthesis, enabling solvent-free, energy-efficient, and scalable design strategies. Rather than serving only as a synthetic shortcut, force-driven processing is increasingly recognized as an architectonic tool as a means of directing matter into well-defined architectures that integrate top-down shaping with bottom-up assembly. This review develops a conceptual framework of architectonics under mechanical activation, treating external force as a design parameter that dictates structure formation across multiple length scales. Methodological platforms such as ball milling, extrusion, and hybrid force–stimuli systems are systematically assessed, alongside mechanistic insights spanning multiscale reaction pathways, computational modeling, and AI-enabled predictions. The potential of this approach to generate smart and functional interfaces is highlighted through applications in catalytic and energy conversion processes, biomedical nanomedicine, and electronic or sensing devices. Finally, we discuss current limitations particularly gaps in mechanistic understanding, predictive control, and scalability and outline future opportunities to advance force-driven architectonics as a foundation for next-generation functional inorganic nanomaterials.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 161-190"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00116a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"High-throughput C–H activation in a bead-beater homogenizer: fast and regioselective access to 2-arylindoles","authors":"Mainak Banerjee, Shravya B., Aboy Chatterjee, Shamima Hussain and Amtita Chatterjee","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00124B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00124B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >High-throughput mechanochemical synthesis is rarely attempted. A bead-beater homogenizer with 24–64 slots offers a unique opportunity for high-throughput mechanosynthesis (HTMS). In this study, C–H bond activation is achieved by homogenizing multiple samples in one go in simple polypropylene (PP) vials with stainless steel balls <em>via</em> liquid-assisted grinding (LAG), with enough frictional force being employed to achieve this challenging transformation. The method demonstrates the preparation of synthetically useful 2-arylindoles through a regioselective reaction between <em>N</em>-alkylated indoles and aryl iodides, catalyzed by Pd(<small>II</small>) and facilitated by C2–H activation in the absence of phosphine ligands, using a bead-beater homogenizer. 5 mol% of Pd(OAc)<small><sub>2</sub></small> was sufficient to catalyze C2-activation of indoles in the presence of a small volume of EtOAc as the LAG agent, affording 2-arylindoles in high to excellent yields within 9 min. The method demonstrated excellent tolerance to structural variations, including electron-rich and electron-deficient substituents in both indoles and iodoarenes. However, unprotected indoles or indoles with deactivated five-membered rings could not participate well in the reaction. This simple, high-yielding, ambient-temperature high-throughput mechanochemical protocol is devoid of a formal workup step, and with a low <em>E</em>-factor (4.5) and a high Eco-scale score (73.5), it augments well with sustainability matrices.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 309-315"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00124b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ab initio force prediction for single molecule force spectroscopy made simple","authors":"Pooja Bhat, Wafa Maftuhin and Michael Walter","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00129C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00129C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Bond rupture under the action of external forces is induced by temperature fluctuations. We show that measured forces from single molecule force spectroscopy experiments can be predicted from two quantities describing the bond that are the barrier to break the bond in absence of force as well as the maximal force the bond can withstand. The former can be obtained by a force-free transition state calculation and the latter is determined by a simple constrained geometry simulates forces (COGEF) calculation. Considering experimental temperature and force loading rate allows the prediction of measured bond rupture forces from a closed expression with very good accuracy.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 301-308"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00129c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mechanochemical synthesis of bent metallacycles and confinement catalysis in the solid-state","authors":"Peiyi Wang, Shi Li, Fang-Zi Liu and KaKing Yan","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00075K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00075K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Synthetic cages or capsules serve as versatile container molecules capable of facilitating host–guest chemistry and confinement-driven catalysis, akin to natural enzymes. However, their guest-binding cavities are typically formed concurrently with their discrete frameworks. In this study, we demonstrate that bent metallacycles, <strong>Pd<small><sub>2</sub></small>L<small><sub>2</sub></small></strong>, structurally analogous to partial constructs of discrete coordination capsules <strong>Pd<small><sub>2</sub></small>L<small><sub>4</sub></small></strong>, can be effectively synthesized mechanochemically. Crystallographic analysis revealed that these structures would self-assemble into non-covalent coordination capsules with tunable interior cavity dimensions. They were further utilized in solid-state, confinement-directed C–C bond formation catalysis, where they exhibited enhanced substrate size/shape recognition capabilities, compared to common organic base catalysts.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 273-279"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00075k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adam G. Buchanan, Elizabeth T. Areola, Maryam Farrukh Butt, Yan Kiu Lee, Jasper Murphy, Annie E. Taylor, Avninder S. Bhambra and George W. Weaver
{"title":"Sustainable mechanochemical synthesis of functionalisable fluorinated scaffolds for drug discovery using green LAG","authors":"Adam G. Buchanan, Elizabeth T. Areola, Maryam Farrukh Butt, Yan Kiu Lee, Jasper Murphy, Annie E. Taylor, Avninder S. Bhambra and George W. Weaver","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00100E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00100E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Fluoroarenes have become widely recognised as useful building blocks in medicinal chemistry, and manipulation of these compounds can be achieved readily using nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S<small><sub>N</sub></small>Ar) to introduce a diverse range of functionality for drug development. A more sustainable mechanochemical approach to S<small><sub>N</sub></small>Ar of fluoroarenes using planetary ball milling with a range of aliphatic and aromatic amines as nucleophiles has been investigated with 20 examples described. An efficient set of milling conditions using liquid assisted grinding (LAG) employing the bio-solvent Cyrene or water, and short reaction times (30 minutes) has been developed. Yields were consistently higher when using Cyrene or water as LAG agent rather than DMF. The method provides a useful alternative to the dipolar aprotic solvents DMF and DMSO and high temperatures commonly used in S<small><sub>N</sub></small>Ar. Ethyl acetate is employed in the extractive work-up, but is recyclable and considered a green solvent. The method reduces or obviates bulk reaction solvent and aqueous waste streams containing dipolar aprotic solvents.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 265-272"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00100e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}