Solid State Mechanochemistry

Congratulations to Ashley, whose paper “Mechanochemically Triggered Bond Formation in Solid-state Polymers” has been published in J. Mater. Chem. The paper is the result of a collaboration with Josh Orlicki at the Army Research Lab. The paper reports that the 2,3-dibromoalkene formed from mechanical activation of gem-dibromocyclopropane mechanophores undergo subsequent nucleophilic substitution by chloride in the solid state. The number of solid-state substitution reactions far exceeds the number of main-chain bonds broken, a finding with implications for the future use of mechanophores in self-strengthening and/or self-healing polymers.