Polymer Mechanochemistry on Reactive Species Generated from Mechanochemical Reactions†
Authors: Chen Xiaolong , Shen Hang , Zhang Zhengbiao 
Published: March 2024

Comprehensive SummaryPolymer mechanochemistry on reactive species has attracted more and more attentions over the past 20 years, as the mechanochemical generation of reactive species has a great potential in developing different polymeric materials for various purposes, such as stress detection, self‐healing, self‐strengthening, controllable degradation and release of small molecules. In this review, we first discuss the recent progress on polymer mechanochemistry of the reactive species that are generated from the mechanochemical reactions of mechanophores. Five types of reactive species, including radical, zwitterion, ionic, carbene and neutral intermediates, and their applications were reviewed in detail. Since mechanochemical reactions are sensitive to the mechanophore structure and polymer framework, we then discuss how mechanophore isomerism, polymer structure, polymer attachment point, and polymer architecture influence the mechanophore activation. At last, we provide our perspectives on the polymer mechanochemistry of reactive species.
Key ScientistsIn the 1930s, a seminal work by Staudinger showed that the molecular weight of poly(styrene) reduced after mastication. However, polymer mechanochemistry mainly focused on the destructive effects of mechanical force, until Moore reported that the azo‐mechanophore was cleaved selectively upon sonication in 2005. Afterwards, his group also found that mechanical force changed the reaction pathway of benzocyclobutene and made spiropyran display purple color under stress. In 2009, Sijbesma revealed that metal–NHC could be used as a latent catalyst to catalyze transesterification and polymerization. Subsequently, the Craig group disclosed the special mechanical reactivity of perfluorocyclobutane in 2011 and examined the influence of polymer backbone on the reactivity of epoxides in 2012. Later, they also reported that the lever‐arm effect enhanced gDBC or gDCC mechanochemistry. Since 2015, Otsuka's group has developed a series of mechanophores that generated various carbon radicals and showed different colors under mechanical force. De Bo subsequently investigated the effect of regio‐ and stereochemistry on the reactivity of furan–maleimide adduct in 2017, and he examined the different mechanisms of the mechanical activation of tetrafluorobenzene–NHC (N‐heterocyclic carbene) adduct in 2020. During that time, the Choi group explored the influence of polymer architecture on the mechanophore activation, and Robb's group utilized a furan‐maleimide adduct to achieve the release of different small molecules. In 2020, Göstl and Herrmann employed the scission of the disulfide within polymers to release drugs and reporting molecules by ultrasound, and the Chen group also investigated the mechanochemistry of diselenides which afforded selenium radicals. In 2021, Boydston's group realized the “flex‐activation” of NHC‐carbodiimide to release NHC small molecules. Recently, the Chen group achieved multistate mechanochromism by combining two Rh structures together through a conjugated connector. In addition, Robb designed a furan‐maleimide adduct to mechanically give a donor–acceptor Stenhouse adduct that reacted with different amines to display various colors. This review has focused on the chemistry of reactive species that are generated from mechanochemical reactions.