From pipemidic acid molecular salts to metal complexes and BioMOFs using mechanochemistry

Mechanochemistry has been assuming a major role in chemistry over the last years. Its potential in a wide variety of reactions is undeniable nowadays, contributing to sustainable chemistry and, at the same time, leading to lower reaction time, higher selectivity and novel reactivity. Herein we disclose new solid forms of pipemidic acid, an antibiotic against which bacteria have been developing resistance mechanisms, obtained by mechanochemistry. These forms are molecular salts with glycolic, oxalic and (R)- and (S)-camphorsulfonic acids, as well as a Cu(II) complex exhibiting a 1D hydrogen bonded network. To prove the importance of the technique, we present here also the rapid and high yielding mechanochemical synthesis of a previously reported Ag metal-organic framework with pipemidic acid.

Automated summary

Mechanochemistry has been playing a significant role in chemistry in recent years, with potential in a wide variety of reactions contributing to sustainable chemistry and leading to lower reaction time, higher selectivity, and novel reactivity. New solid forms of pipemidic acid obtained by mechanochemistry demonstrate its importance in antibiotic production and metal-organic framework synthesis.