Multigram Mechanochemical synthesis of a Salophen Complex: A Comparative Analysis

Mechanosynthesis is a powerful alternative to traditional solvent-based synthesis as it allows for higher yields in shorter reaction times, while minimizing the use of solvents. Although mechanochemical routes are becoming increasingly mainstream in synthetic laboratories, up-scaled examples for main group complexes are still rare. Here, motivated by the practical implementation of mechanosynthesis, we demonstrated the synthesis of salen and salophen complexes. The herein reported synthesis displays low E-factor and process mass intensity compared to conventional solution methods. In addition, analyses evaluating environmental parameters, energy consumption, and production cost have been performed, showing the multiple advantages mechanochemistry has over conventional solution-based synthesis.

Automated summary

Mechanosynthesis is a powerful alternative to traditional solvent-based synthesis, allowing for higher yields, shorter reaction times, and minimized solvent use. This study demonstrates the synthesis of salen and salophen complexes using mechanochemistry, showing low E-factor and process mass intensity compared to conventional solution methods, along with multiple advantages in environmental impact, energy consumption, and production cost analysis.