The Direct Mechanocatalytic Suzuki‐Miyaura Reaction of Small Organic Molecules

The molecular Suzuki cross-coupling reaction was conducted mechanochemically, with neither solvents, ligands, nor catalyst powders. Utilizing one catalytically active palladium milling ball, quantitative yields could be achieved in as little as 30 minutes. In contrast to previous reports, the adjustment of milling parameters leads to the complete elimination of abrasion from the catalyst ball, allowing for the first ever reported systematic catalyst analysis. XPS, in situ XRD and reference experiments prove the milling ball surface to be the location of the catalysis allowing for a mechanism to be proposed. The versatility of the approach was demonstrated by extending the substrate scope to deactivated and even sterically hindered aryl iodides and -bromides