Solid-state molecular oxygen activation using ball milling and a piezoelectric material for aerobic oxidation of thiols.

The agitation of BaTiO 3 via ball milling converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, leading to the reduction of molecular oxygen via a single electron transfer pathway analogous to the photocatalytic reaction. This mechanoredox strategy for the oxidative coupling of thiols could eliminate waste and develop a recyclable methodology to accomplish organic transformations in a greener fashion, exhibiting promising potential for large-scale chemical manufacturing.