Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 in Piezo-Assisted Mechanochemical Oxidation Reactions
ChemistryOpen, vol.15, no.8, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 15 Issue: 8
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1002/open.70265
- Journal Name: ChemistryOpen
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Compendex, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Keywords: ball milling, mechanochemical oxidation reactions, piezocatalyst, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8
- Süleyman Demirel University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Piezocatalysis, in combination with mechanochemical reactions, can create a respectable revolution in organic synthesis by enhancing product yield. In this study, ball milling merging with the synthesized zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), possessing a specific surface area of 1097 m2/g, was explored to catalyze the oxidative mechanochemical solventless homocoupling reaction of thiols (R-SH) to disulfides (R-S–S-R) at 450 rpm within 120 min, as well as the oxidative mechanochemical solvent-assisted reaction of toluene to phenol at 450 rpm within 180 min. 1-butanethiol and 4-aminothiophenol, as the models of thiol compounds, were oxidized to 1,2-dibutyldisulfane and 4,4′-disulfanediyldianiline, respectively, with the yields of 40% and 64%. The production of disulfides was monitored by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Gas chromatography–flame ionization detection qualitatively and quantitatively explored the phenol production, as the phenol concentration was determined to be 5.550 mmol/L at a pH of 5 and 5.533 mmol/L under the condition of no adjusted pH (the initial pH of ≈3). In the toluene oxidation, O2•− species were detected as the main species, through radical trapping experiments. The ZIF-8 particles could be reused after three cycles with no significant loss in the yield of thiol oxidation product, as further confirmed by their recorded Fourier transform infrared spectrum, powder X-ray diffraction pattern, and field emission scanning electron microscopy images.