B2435 - MECHANOCHEMISTRY

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has acquired knowledge of (i) mechanochemical synthesis of organic and metallorganic materials, (ii) techniques for in-situ reaction monitoring, and (iii) sustainable processes alternative to traditional solution methods.

Course contents

‘Mechanochemistry’ refers to reactions, normally between solids, induced by the input of mechanical energy. These reactions are being intensely studied in the organic, inorganic and metal-organic fields, as mechanochemistry can promote reactions between solids quickly and quantitatively, with either no added solvent or only nominal amounts, thus reducing environmental impact and costs.

The need to develop new green and sustainable methods and processes for “a chemistry benign by design” is pushing scientists in both academia and industry to approach chemistry differently, using safer reagents or solvents, diminishing the generation of toxic and non-toxic waste, and limiting solvent use, hence the energy costs of their disposal after use.

The course will provide a broad but digestible overview of the state-of-the-art of mechanochemical syntheses, and present opportunities and challenges of a whole sector of synthetic chemistry with current and potential environmentally friendly applications in the agrochemistry, food and pharmaceutical fields, as well for the preparation of discrete and extended metal–organic systems for gas storage, filtering and detecting, among others.

The course will also touch upon industrial aspects and possibility of scaling up laboratory-born mechanochemical reactions, such as liquid assisted grinding, resonant acoustic mixing etc., intermediate gas activation, sonochemistry, seeding-assisted grinding, planetary-milling liquid assisted, dry milling, vortex grinding.

The following topics will be discussed with the online participation of guest researchers with experience on specific topics. Lectures and seminars will also be organized and delivered by professors Fabrizia Grepioni and Lucia Maini.

1. Mechanochemistry: an overview and historical account.
2. Preparative methods: from manual grinding to automated ball mills (with online demonstrations and virtual experiments).
3. Ex-situ products characterization methods techniques for the investigation of the products of mechanochemical reactions (X-ray, DSC, TGA, SSNMR, etc.).
4. In-situ reaction monitoring (Raman, X-ray, etc.).
5. Mechanochemistry of inorganic materials.
6. Mechanochemistry of organic compounds.
7. Mechanochemistry of coordination compounds and MOFs.
8. Mechanochemistry of polymers.
9. Mechanochemistry 2.0. Advanced techniques. Thermo-mechanochemistry, sono-mechanochemistry, electro-mechanochemistry and photo-mechanochemistry.

Readings/Bibliography

Mechanochemistry - A Practical Introduction from Soft to Hard Materials - Evelina Colacino, Guido Ennas, Ivan Halasz, Andrea Porcheddu, Alessandra Scano (Eds.) © 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Mechanochemistry as an emerging tool for molecular synthesis: what can it offer? Joseph L. Howard, Qun Cao and Duncan L. Browne Cite this: Chem. Sci., 2018, 9, 3080 DOI: 10.1039/c7sc05371a

Introducing mechanochemistry by Nina Notman 23/12/22, Feature article - Chemistry World

Advancing mechanochemical synthesis by combining milling with different energy sources. Nature reviews chemistry https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-022-00442-1

Mechanochemistry: opportunities for new and cleaner synthesis. [https://cris.unibo.it/handle/11585/112394] S. L. James; C. J. Adams; C. Bolm; D. Braga; P. Collier; T. Friscic; 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; D. C. Waddell Chemical Society Reviews, 2012, 41, pp. 413 - 447

Teaching methods

Students attending the course will participate directly in the discussion of specific topics, by reading selected papers and presenting them in the form of seminars. Topics will also be discussed by the students with invited researchers expert in mechanochemistry. This methodology should promote the engagement of the students, and their ability in public speaking. Lectures will be delivered by prof.s Braga, Grepioni and Maini. Videos on Mechanochemistry topics will also be viewed together during lectures, and discussed.

Assessment methods

The students will be evaluated during the course, on the basis of their participation in the joint discussions and in their reading and presenting of selected papers on mechanochemistry issues. Students not attending the course will be evaluated with an oral exam on the basis of the articles discussed during the course.

Teaching tools

Power point presentations and videos from the web.

Office hours

See the website of Dario Braga