Since publishing our first articles in January 2024, RSC Mechanochemistry has continued to publish impactful research in the field of mechanical forces in chemistry and the use of mechanochemistry in other disciplines. Here we are looking back at some of the publications from our Advisory Board.
| Grinding and the anisotropic environment: influences on the diastereoselective formation of Group 15 allyl complexes
Lauren E. Wenger, Timothy P. Hanusa RSC Mechanochem., 2024, 1, 235-243 DOI: 10.1039/D4MR00001C |
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Mechanochemical synthesis and transformation of the polymorphic double carbonates fairchildite and buetschliite, (K2Ca(CO3)2): an in situ X-ray powder diffraction study
Volker Kahlenberg, Doris E. Braun, Wolfgang Schmidt, Hang Liu, Sebastian Leiting, Claudia Weidenthaler RSC Mechanochem., 2025, 2, 152-158 DOI: 10.1039/D4MR00093E |
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| Mechanosynthesis of ruthenium trisbipyridyl complexes and application in photoredox catalysis in a ball-mill
Florian Luttringer, Matthieu Lavayssiere, Enita Rastoder, Nikita Salov, Tristan Gravelet, François Quintin, Julien Pinaud, Frédéric Lamaty, Xavier Bantreil RSC Mechanochem., 2025, 2, 108-115 DOI: 10.139/D4MR00112E |
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Aza-Michael addition by ball milling
Leonarda Vugrin, Alen Bjelopetrović, Ivan Halasz RSC Mechanochem., 2025, 2, 184-187 DOI: 10.1039/D4MR00133H |
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| Mechanochemical indium(0)-mediated Barbier allylation of carbonyl compounds: unexpected immiscible water additive effect for hydrophobic reagents
Nuri Kim, Eun Sul Go, Jeung Gon Kim RSC Mechanochem., 2024, 1, 158-161 DOI: 10.1039/D4MR00005F |
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Kinetics of primary mechanochemical covalent-bond-forming reactions
Yerzhan S. Zholdassov, Ryan W. Kwok, Milan A. Shlain, Monil Patel, Mateusz Marianki, Adam B. Braunschweig RSC Mechanochem., 2024, 1, 11-32 DOI: 10.1039/D3MR00018D |
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| Solvent influence on the mechanism of a mechanochemical metal-halide metathesis reaction
Sourabh Kumar, Dillon Button-Jennings, Timothy P. Hanusa, Ashlie Martini RSC Mechanochem., 2025, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/D4MR00136B |
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Pressure as the driving force for mechanochemical reactions on the example of ion metathesis of alkali halides upon ball milling
Wolfgang Schmidt, Pit Losch, Hilke Petersen, Martin Etter, Florian Baum, Jan Ternieden, Claudia Weidenthaler RSC Mechanochem., 2025, 2, 273-284 DOI: 10.1039/D4MR00104D |
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| Conquering the impossible: mechanochemistry as a tool for tackling coordination chemistry challenges
Huanxin Zhang, Nathan Davison, Erli Lu RSC Mechanochem., 2025, 2, 370-388 DOI: 10.1039/D5MR00005J |
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Ball-milling for efficient synthesis of pyridine-containing iron(II) photosensitizers
Enita Rastoder, Thierry Michel, Frédéric Lamaty, Xavier Bantreil RSC Mechanochem., 2024, 1, 116-122 DOI: 10.1039/D3MR00033H |
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| Chemoselectivity switch by mechanochemistry in the base-catalysed dione-acylation
Sally Nijem, Alexander Kaushansky, Svetlana Pucovski, Elisa Ivry, Evelina Colacino, Ivan Halsz, Charles Diesendruck RSC Mechanochem., 2025, 2, 419-425 DOI: 10.1039/D4MR00141A |
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Synthesis of α-ketothioamides with elemental sulfur under solvent-free conditions in a mixer mill
Chandan Chittapriya Sahu, Sourav Biswas, Renè Hommelsheim, Carsten Bolm RSC Mechanochem., 2024, 1, 38-42 DOI: 10.1039/D3MR00025G |
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| Total mechano-synthesis of 2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)quinoline-3-acrylaldehyde—a pivotal intermediate of pitavastatin
Jingbo Yu, Yanhua Zhang, Zehao Zheng, Weike Su RSC Mechanochem., 2024, 1, 367-374 DOI: 10.1039/D4MR000396F |
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“What makes every work perfect is cooking and grinding”: the ancient roots of mechanochemistry
Marianna Marchini, Giacomo Montanari, Lucia Casali, Matteo Martelli, Lucia Raggetti, Matej Baláž, Peter Baláž, Lucia Maini RSC Mechanochem., 2024, 1, 123-129 DOI: 10.1039/D3MR00035D |
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| Reassessing mechanochemical processes in polyatomic systems for smart fabrication of nanocomposites
Mamoru Senna, Adam. A.L. Michalchuk RSC Mechanochem., 2025, 2, 351-369 DOI: 10.1039/D4MR00084F |
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Are you ready to contribute to the future of mechanochemistry? RSC Mechanochemistry offers you an inclusive and dedicated home for the ideas, scientific language and approaches that cut across the many disciplines mechanochemistry touches. Here we are seeking to build knowledge, as well as foster innovation and discovery at this forefront of chemistry. Whether you are seeking to understand the fundamentals of mechanochemistry, or you are excited by its applications and potential, this journal is for you. All of the content in this journal is gold open access, which means that you can read every article for free, and we are covering all publication costs until mid-2026. |
In my field of soft matter mechanochemistry, we have seen some pretty exciting progress thanks to the development of increasing numbers of synthetic molecules that respond to mechanical force in specific ways. Some key examples are mechanochromic, mechanofluorescent and mechanoluminescent reporters, as well as force-triggered release mechanisms through mechanochemical linkers, reactions kick-started by radicals or mechanocatalysts, mechanochemical switches, and, more recently, artificial catch bonds. What is really exciting is that more and more of these mechanoresponsive systems are working in water, which opens up a lot of possibilities for integrating them with biological systems.
There is considerable evidence that mechanochemistry is often better than other synthetic methods, especially solution-based ones. Mechanochemistry uses mechanical force to drive chemical reactions, and it can be more efficient, resource-saving and environmentally friendly than traditional solutions.
Mechanochemistry has always been a paradigm-shifting method for conducting chemical reactions. While we often celebrate groundbreaking ideas in hindsight, they are not always embraced immediately. Consider Galileo Galilei, who faced life imprisonment for endorsing Copernicus’ theory that the Earth orbits the sun. Similarly, Alfred Wegener encountered not just skepticism, but outright hostility for proposing the concept of continental drift, suggesting that continents were once connected and moved across the Earth. One of Wegener’s detractors stated “It is certain the Wegener’s theory was established with a superficial use of scientific methods, ignoring the various fields of geology.” He continued to state “We can only try to keep our distance and beg him not to deal with geology any longer…” Even Einstein’s view of quantum physics was not all that favorable, famously stating “God does not play dice with the Universe” and describing what we now call quantum entanglement as “spooky action at a distance”. These examples highlight not just a mere clash of ideas, but also the hostility directed towards the individuals advocating them.
Mechanochemistry has the potential to revolutionise many industrial applications, such as energy, nanomaterials, and environmental remediation. By using mechanochemistry, our industry can potentially reduce their costs, waste, and environmental impact, while increasing their efficiency, quality, and innovation. Mechanochemistry can also enable the discovery of new compounds and mechanisms that are inaccessible by conventional methods.