| Recently, there has been a focused effort towards the development of an environmentally friendly America. The field of green chemistry has been born of this ideology. Green chemistry is the reduction or elimination of environmentally hazardous chemicals and chemical processes. The Mack lab attempts to reduce some of these hazards by synthesizing molecules with a solvent free and environmentally benign method known as high speed ball milling (HSBM). In HSBM, reactants are shaken vigorously in a reaction vial and the subsequent mixing and impacts generated deliver enough energy to the system to facilitate a chemical reaction. Here, we present the successful incorporation of HSBM into organic synthesis. Acid/base chemistry, the Tischenko reaction, and enolate chemistry will be described in detail. As we increase our knowledge about the solvent free method of HSBM, we are creating a unique and environmentally friendly toolbox for organic chemists which will cause a paradigm shift in the way we conduct organic reactions. |
