Jump to main content
Jump to site search
Publishing
Advanced

Issue 1, 2012
Previous Article Next Article

Mechanochemistry: opportunities for new and cleaner synthesis

Stuart L. James,*a   Christopher J. Adams,b   Carsten Bolm,c   Dario Braga,d   Paul Collier,e   Tomislav Friščić,f   Fabrizia Grepioni,d   Kenneth D. M. Harris,g   Geoff Hyett,h   William Jones,f   Anke Krebs,c   James Mack,i   Lucia Maini,d   A. Guy Orpen,b   Ivan P. Parkin,j   William C. Shearouse,i   Jonathan W. Steedk  and  Daniel C. Waddelli  
Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

a School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University Belfast, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, UK
E-mail: s.james@qub.ac.uk

b School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, UK

c Institute of Organic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, 52056 Aachen, Germany

d Dipartimento di Chimica G.Ciamician, via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy

e Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Blount's Court, Sonning Common, Reading, UK

f University of Cambridge, Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK

g School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, Wales, UK

h School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

i Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, 301 Clifton Ct, Cincinnati, OH, USA

j Materials Research Centre, Christopher Ingold Laboratory, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, UK

k Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, Durham, UK

Abstract

The aim of this critical review is to provide a broad but digestible overview of mechanochemical synthesis, i.e. reactions conducted by grinding solid reactants together with no or minimal solvent. Although mechanochemistry has historically been a sideline approach to synthesis it may soon move into the mainstream because it is increasingly apparent that it can be practical, and even advantageous, and because of the opportunities it provides for developing more sustainable methods. Concentrating on recent advances, this article covers industrial aspects, inorganic materials, organic synthesis, cocrystallisation, pharmaceutical aspects, metal complexes (including metal–organic frameworks), supramolecular aspects and characterization methods. The historical development, mechanistic aspects, limitations and opportunities are also discussed (314 references).

Graphical abstract: Mechanochemistry: opportunities for new and cleaner synthesis

Back to tab navigation
Download options Please wait...

Article information

https://doi.org/10.1039/C1CS15171A
Submitted
24 Jun 2011
First published
05 Sep 2011
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012,41, 413-447
Article type
Critical Review
Permissions
Request permissions

Mechanochemistry: opportunities for new and cleaner synthesis

S. L. James, C. J. Adams, C. Bolm, D. Braga, P. Collier, T. Friščić, F. Grepioni, K. D. M. Harris, G. Hyett, W. Jones, A. Krebs, J. Mack, L. Maini, A. G. Orpen, I. P. Parkin, W. C. Shearouse, J. W. Steed and D. C. Waddell, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 413
DOI: 10.1039/C1CS15171A

If you are not the author of this article and you wish to reproduce material from it in a third party non-RSC publication you must formally request permission using Copyright Clearance Center. Go to our Instructions for using Copyright Clearance Center page for details.

Authors contributing to RSC publications (journal articles, books or book chapters) do not need to formally request permission to reproduce material contained in this article provided that the correct acknowledgement is given with the reproduced material.

Reproduced material should be attributed as follows:

  • For reproduction of material from NJC:
    Reproduced from Ref. XX with permission from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and The Royal Society of Chemistry.
  • For reproduction of material from PCCP:
    Reproduced from Ref. XX with permission from the PCCP Owner Societies.
  • For reproduction of material from PPS:
    Reproduced from Ref. XX with permission from the European Society for Photobiology, the European Photochemistry Association, and The Royal Society of Chemistry.
  • For reproduction of material from all other RSC journals and books:
    Reproduced from Ref. XX with permission from The Royal Society of Chemistry.

If the material has been adapted instead of reproduced from the original RSC publication "Reproduced from" can be substituted with "Adapted from".

In all cases the Ref. XX is the XXth reference in the list of references.

If you are the author of this article you do not need to formally request permission to reproduce figures, diagrams etc. contained in this article in third party publications or in a thesis or dissertation provided that the correct acknowledgement is given with the reproduced material.

Reproduced material should be attributed as follows:

  • For reproduction of material from NJC:
    [Original citation] - Reproduced by permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) on behalf of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the RSC
  • For reproduction of material from PCCP:
    [Original citation] - Reproduced by permission of the PCCP Owner Societies
  • For reproduction of material from PPS:
    [Original citation] - Reproduced by permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) on behalf of the European Society for Photobiology, the European Photochemistry Association, and RSC
  • For reproduction of material from all other RSC journals:
    [Original citation] - Reproduced by permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry

If you are the author of this article you still need to obtain permission to reproduce the whole article in a third party publication with the exception of reproduction of the whole article in a thesis or dissertation.

Information about reproducing material from RSC articles with different licences is available on our Permission Requests page.

Social activity

Search articles by author

Spotlight

Advertisements