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The concept of an organic reaction between two macroscopic solid particles is investigated. Thus, we study several reactions that have been recently reported to proceed "in the solid phase" and clearly show that, in most cases, grinding the two solid reactants together results in the formation of a liquid phase. This is true both for catalytic transformations (e.g., aldol condensations and oligomerization of benzylic compounds) and for noncatalytic reactions (Baeyer-Villiger oxidations, oxidative coupling of naphthols using iron chloride, condensation of amines and aldehydes to form azomethines, homo-etherification of benzylic alcohols using p-toluenesulfonic acid, and nuclear aromatic bromination with NBS). This liquefaction implies the existence of a eutectic mixture with T(fusion) below ambient temperature (although both reagents have higher than ambient melting points). In cases where heating is required, it is again clear that a phase change (from solid to liquid) occurs, explaining the observed reaction kinetics. On the basis of 19 experimental examples, we discuss the possibility of solid-phase organic reactions and the implications of these findings to the reaction between two solid reagents. A general description of such reactive systems is proposed, based on a consideration of the potential for eutectic (or peritectic) formation between the constituents of the liquid phases that arise during the process of mechanical mixing of the solid reagents and products.

Graphite is exfoliated into graphene by shearing vortex fluidic films of N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP), as a controlled process for preparing oxide free graphene, and for exfoliating the corresponding boron nitride sheets.

Organic chemistry is continually evolving to improve the syntheses of value added and bioactive compounds. Through this progression, a concomitant advancement in laboratory technology has occurred. Many researchers now choose to mediate transformations in continuous-flow systems given the many benefits over round bottom flasks. Furthermore, reaction scale up is often less problematic as this is addressed at the inception of the science. Although single-step transformations in continuous-flow systems are common, multi-step transformations are more valuable. In these systems, molecular complexity is accrued through sequential transformations to a mobile scaffold, much like an in vitro version of Nature's polyketide synthases. Utilizing this methodology, multi-step continuous-flow systems have improved the syntheses of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), natural products, and commodity chemicals. This Review details these advancements while highlighting the rapid progress, benefits, and diversification of this expanding field.