High-pressure conditions
can be considered as an alternative, environmentally
responsible way for the equilibrium reactions, such as disulfide exchange.
This approach is capable of eliminating the catalysts or stimuli,
such as reducing agents, strong bases, ultraviolet light, or ultrasound.
The exchange of aryl disulfides in the absence of catalysts or other
stimuli has been systematically studied. The effects of pressure in
the range between 100 and 400 MPa, accessible in large-scale technological
installations, have been tested for promoting exchange reactions between
various homodimeric aryl disulfides. For the optimized conditions,
100% yields of the heterodimer in pure single-crystal form were obtained.
The reactions were performed in a diamond anvil cell, as well as in
a hydraulic piston-and-cylinder press, and the products were characterized
by X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance
(NMR) spectroscopy. The prominent role of high-entropy states, not
attainable under ambient conditions, as well as the high-entropy nucleation,
kinetic crystallization, and other effects associated with the high-pressure
environment, has been demonstrated. These entropy-driven reactions
represent an efficient, environmentally friendly, one-pot method for
obtaining pure crystalline heterodimeric disulfides.