The Mechanochemical Synthesis and Activation of Carbon‐Rich π‐Conjugated Materials

Mechanochemistry uses mechanical force to break, form, and manipulate chemical bonds to achieve functional transformations and syntheses. Over the last years, many innovative applications of mechanochemistry have been developed. Specifically for the synthesis and activation of carbon‐rich π‐conjugated materials, mechanochemistry offers reaction pathways that either are inaccessible with other stimuli, such as light and heat, or improve reaction yields, energy consumption, and substrate scope. Therefore, this review summarizes the recent advances in this research field combining the viewpoints of polymer and trituration mechanochemistry. The highlighted mechanochemical transformations include π‐conjugated materials as optical force probes, the force‐induced release of small dye molecules, and the mechanochemical synthesis of polyacetylene, carbon allotropes, and other π‐conjugated materials. Mechanochemistry allows the manipulation of chemical bonds by force as unique stimulus to impart functionality and bottom‐up bond formation. This allows the synthesis and activation of π‐conjugated carbon‐rich materials that would otherwise not be accessible. The authors highlight notable examples from the realms of polymer and trituration mechanochemistry.