Adrien Gallego, Matthieu Lavayssiere, Xavier Bantreil, Nicolas Pétry, Julien Pinaud, Olivia Giani and Frédéric Lamaty
{"title":"Smart mechanochemistry: optimizing amino acid acylation with one factor at a time, design of experiments and machine learning methods","authors":"Adrien Gallego, Matthieu Lavayssiere, Xavier Bantreil, Nicolas Pétry, Julien Pinaud, Olivia Giani and Frédéric Lamaty","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00096C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00096C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The formation of amide bonds is of major interest in organic chemistry. Several methodologies have emerged in mechanochemistry to promote this reaction by using coupling agents. Herein, the acylation of unprotected amino acids using an acyl chloride in a ball-mill is described with different optimization processes. Indeed, the optimization of reaction conditions is part of every development of a new synthetic pathway. However, depending on the method which is used, the number of experiments to carry out can increase exponentially. Three different optimization methods were compared in the acylation of amino acids: One Factor at a Time (OFAT), Design of Experiments (DoE) and Bayesian Optimization (BO). The strengths and limitations of each methodology are highlighted providing new insights and an optimized practical amidation method taking into account the sustainability of this chemistry.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 254-264"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00096c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375142","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}
Jordan M. Roach, Tyler L. Spano and Andrew Miskowiec
{"title":"Mechanochemical α to β phase transition of U3O8","authors":"Jordan M. Roach, Tyler L. Spano and Andrew Miskowiec","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00046G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00046G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Recognized as the most stable phase of uranium oxide, α-U<small><sub>3</sub></small>O<small><sub>8</sub></small> is widely used throughout the nuclear fuel cycle for safe storage and transportation. There is, however, a lack of understanding of the thermodynamic relationship between α-U<small><sub>3</sub></small>O<small><sub>8</sub></small> and its polymorph, β-U<small><sub>3</sub></small>O<small><sub>8</sub></small>. This research contributes new knowledge regarding the kinetics and mechanism of a previously described mechanochemical phase transition between the α- and β-U<small><sub>3</sub></small>O<small><sub>8</sub></small> polymorphs to improve the understanding of their thermodynamic relationship. In this work, tumble milling of α-U<small><sub>3</sub></small>O<small><sub>8</sub></small> using different milling media shows an ingrowth of the β-phase over time, with an observed correlation between media density, percent conversion and lattice strain. Anisotropic peak broadening observed within collected X-ray diffraction powder patterns suggests the preservation of uranium polyhedral layered sheets throughout the milling process. Preservation of the sheets implies a shear-induced slip mechanism occurring through in-plane shifting of uranium polyhedra along lattice planes perpendicular to the polyhedral sheets.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 1","pages":" 56-66"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00046g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145950619","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}
Hao Luo, Zhongye Huang, Yongning Lai, Yongjie Jiang, Taoyong Wang and KaKing Yan
{"title":"Biasing mechanistically distinct reaction pathways by mechanochemistry","authors":"Hao Luo, Zhongye Huang, Yongning Lai, Yongjie Jiang, Taoyong Wang and KaKing Yan","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00104H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00104H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Due to the solvent-free nature of the mechanochemical approach, it offers an opportunity to drive reactions with different selectivities from those under conventional solution-based conditions. Nevertheless, literature examples of pathway switching remain scarce. Herein, we report an unusual example where ball-milling offers three distinct pathways leading to three different products. By simply adjusting the amount of liquid additive, arene C–H functionalization can be biased between bromination and oxidation <em>via</em> either radical (Br˙) or ionic (Br<small><sup>+</sup></small>) intermediates, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 195-200"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00104h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375086","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}
Leonardo Genesin, Eleonora Aneggi, Walter Baratta, Talha Munir, Fabio Trigatti and Daniele Zuccaccia
{"title":"Rapid, efficient and green solid-state mechanosynthesis of palladium complexes","authors":"Leonardo Genesin, Eleonora Aneggi, Walter Baratta, Talha Munir, Fabio Trigatti and Daniele Zuccaccia","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00107B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00107B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Mechanochemistry has emerged as a powerful and environmentally benign alternative to conventional solution synthesis. In this study, we present a comprehensive investigation into the solid-state mechanochemical synthesis of a diverse library of palladium(<small>II</small>) complexes. This investigation utilized five commercially available Pd(<small>II</small>) precursors and twelve diene, N- and P-donor ligands. Systematic investigations have revealed that high-yielding and clean reactions can be achieved by tuning the milling frequency, reaction time, and metal-to-ligand stoichiometry, affording more than forty Pd(<small>II</small>) complexes. A comparison with conventional solution-based protocols is therefore indicated to underscore the operational simplicity and ecological advantage of the mechanochemical approach, as demonstrated by favorable green chemistry metrics such as low E-factors and high effective mass yields (EMYs). The validity of the methodology was established through gram-scale syntheses, which demonstrated high yields and reproducibility. These findings contribute a robust and generalizable synthetic strategy for accessing widely used palladium precursors, thus supporting the integration of mechanochemistry into green organometallic synthesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 1","pages":" 115-130"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00107b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145950572","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}
Aleksandra Khanina, Tatyana Sviridova, Alexandra Ivanova, Andrey Voronin and Vladimir Khovaylo
{"title":"Mechanochemical synthesis of Ba-doped BiCuSeO oxyselenides: influence of processing conditions on phase formation","authors":"Aleksandra Khanina, Tatyana Sviridova, Alexandra Ivanova, Andrey Voronin and Vladimir Khovaylo","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00056D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00056D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >We report a novel rapid synthesis method for Ba-doped BiCuSeO using mechanochemical synthesis. The phase formation mechanism during high-energy milling as well as the combined effects of the powder-to-ball mass ratio and the heterovalent substitution of bismuth by barium on the thermoelectric properties was investigated. It was shown that the single-phase oxyselenide compounds are formed after 25 minutes of ball milling. The thermoelectric properties of these samples were found to be comparable with the properties of oxyselenides prepared <em>via</em> conventional solid-state reaction reported in the literature.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 1","pages":" 106-114"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00056d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145950571","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}
Andres F. Prada, Jaemin Kim, Linduo Zhao, Fangyu Li, Lee Green and John W. Scott
{"title":"Using piezoelectric mechanochemistry for solvent-free, nonthermal defluorination of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contained in carbon-based sorbents","authors":"Andres F. Prada, Jaemin Kim, Linduo Zhao, Fangyu Li, Lee Green and John W. Scott","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00111K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00111K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Mechanochemical methods such as ball milling offer a solvent-free and non-thermal approach for PFAS remediation, enabling not just separation but actual destruction of PFAS through defluorination. In this study, we demonstrate that effective PFAS defluorination using ball milling critically depends on the presence of a co-milling catalyst, in this case piezoelectric catalysts such as boron nitride (BN), which showed the highest performance among other tested piezoelectric materials. While BN has already proven effective for defluorination of pure PFAS compounds, PFAS in sediments, and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), prior studies have been limited by the small amounts of PFAS they can treat inside another medium. To overcome these limitations, we present as an alternative the coupling of BN with activated carbon as a pre-concentration medium for PFAS. By leveraging activated carbon's high sorption capacity, we were able to destroy nearly 100 times higher mass of PFOA in less than one-third of the time compared to previous studies on sediments or AFFF. These results suggest that the design of larger-scale ball milling systems for PFAS destruction should incorporate the use of high-capacity sorbents to concentrate contaminants, thus destroying higher amounts more effectively. While in the case of activated carbon the chances of reusing it after milling are minimal, it could be safely disposed of without the risk of releasing PFAS back into the environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 1","pages":" 92-99"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00111k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145950624","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":"Moving mechanochemistry forward: mechanochemical polymer synthesis and recycling","authors":"Jeung Gon Kim","doi":"10.1039/D5MR90029H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR90029H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >A graphical abstract is available for this content</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 6","pages":" 783-785"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/mr/d5mr90029h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145374761","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}
Sourabh Kumar, Robert W. Carpick and Ashlie Martini
{"title":"A classical potential-based framework for modeling mechanochemical reactivity via molecular distortion: demonstration for a Diels–Alder reaction","authors":"Sourabh Kumar, Robert W. Carpick and Ashlie Martini","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00099H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00099H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Mechanochemical reactions are increasingly studied using molecular dynamics simulations to understand mechanically activated chemical transformations. However, accurately capturing reactivity under mechanochemical conditions using classical potentials remains a challenge because standard models inhibit force-induced distortion of reactant species. In this study, we used the REACTER protocol, a method for simulating reactive events <em>via</em> dynamic bond changes, with a classical potential modified to allow the molecular distortion observed in first-principles calculations of a 4 + 2 Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction. The approach was used to simulate the reaction in non-mechanochemical conditions with a solvent and no external stress, as well as in mechanochemical conditions. Mechanochemical simulations were run at hydrostatic stresses of 0.1 MPa and 2.5 GPa, both with and without shear applied, to investigate how the stress state influences reactivity. Relative to the non-mechanochemical reference case, hydrostatic stress and shear stress increased reaction yield. This increase was due to molecular distortion, the primary mechanism by which mechanical force activates chemical reactions, that could only be modeled using the modified classical potential. However, some of the increase in reaction yield was attributable to secondary mechanochemical activation mechanisms. Specifically, hydrostatic stress decreased the distance between reactants and shear stress facilitated alignment of reactants in the direction of imposed shear. This work provides new insight into how the stress state affects mechanochemical reaction mechanisms and establishes a generally applicable framework for improving classical potential-based simulations for organic reactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 224-234"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00099h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375140","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}
Xuan Luo, Ahmed H. M. Al-Antaki, Andrew E. Whitten, Filomena Salvemini, Evgenia Leivadarou, Wei Zhang, Harshita Kumari and Colin L. Raston
{"title":"Vortex-fluidic-mediated phase separation of polyethylene glycol and aqueous potassium phosphate characterised by real-time neutron imaging and scattering","authors":"Xuan Luo, Ahmed H. M. Al-Antaki, Andrew E. Whitten, Filomena Salvemini, Evgenia Leivadarou, Wei Zhang, Harshita Kumari and Colin L. Raston","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00093A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00093A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The phase separation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and aqueous potassium phosphate is slow under conventional batch processing. Herein, we investigate the instantaneous phase separation of this system through thin film shearing in a vortex fluid device (VFD), monitored in real time using <em>in situ</em> small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and neutron imaging. The SANS data for the aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) are best fitted with the Debye model, indicating that PEG molecules adopt a Gaussian coil structure under shear in the presence of potassium phosphate. Notably, when mixed in the VFD, the radius of gyration (<em>R</em><small><sub>g</sub></small>) of PEG molecules differed from that observed under diffusion-controlled conditions in a stationary cuvette. Shearing in the presence of potassium phosphate further altered the Gaussian coil structure of PEG, as indicated by a decrease in <em>R</em><small><sub>g</sub></small>. Real-time monitoring of PEG structural changes in both monophasic and biphasic systems has thus been established. This approach is important for understanding fluid regimes and their applications in biphasic purification and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 1","pages":" 100-105"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00093a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145950570","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":"Helical-structure transition and color changes in aromatic polyacetylenes under mechanochemical conditions: effect of the additive-alcohol chain length","authors":"Haruki Ikushima and Yasuteru Mawatari","doi":"10.1039/D5MR00102A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MR00102A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This study investigates the control of higher-order polymer structures through mechanochemical (MC) synthesis, focusing on poly(2-ethynylnaphthalene) (<strong>P2EN</strong>) as a model helical poly(arylacetylene). The products of MC synthesis using linear alcohols (C1–C22) as additives were compared with those of conventional solution synthesis using these alcohols as solvents. Interestingly, the polymer color, which depends on helical conformation, is directly influenced by the carbon-chain length of the alcohol additive in MC synthesis. Short-chain alcohols produce yellow <strong>P2EN</strong> with extended helices (the <em>cis-transoid</em> structure), whereas long-chain alcohols yield red <strong>P2EN</strong> with contracted helices (the <em>cis-cisoid</em> structure). This structure-dependent color variation is exclusive to MC synthesis; solution polymerization consistently produces yellow <strong>P2EN</strong> with extended helices, regardless of the alcohol used. The results of this study suggest that under MC conditions, localized heat and pressure facilitate transitions from metastable <em>cis-transoid</em> to stable <em>cis-cisoid</em> conformations through specific high-affinity polymer/additive interactions. Thus, MC synthesis with appropriate additives can direct the synthesis of polymers with thermodynamically stable higher-order structures. The proposed approach offers an environmentally friendly method for controlling the conformation (and material properties) of polymers, potentially enabling the green industrial production of functional polymer materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":101140,"journal":{"name":"RSC Mechanochemistry","volume":" 1","pages":" 38-45"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/mr/d5mr00102a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145950617","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}