One-Pot, One-Step Precatalysts through Mechanochemistry

The development and implementation of transition-metal-based precatalysts have played crucial roles in modern organic synthesis. However, while the use of such species greatly improves sustainability, their preparative routes often rely on multiple time-, energy-, and solvent-intensive steps. By leveraging solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis through vibratory ball milling, we report the one-pot, one-step synthesis of a range of first-row transition-metal bis­(imino)­pyridine complexes, where both the ligand and coordination complex are assembled in situ. Bis­(imino)­pyridine complexes of the first-row transition metals have an extensive history of application as precatalysts for numerous bond-forming transformations. The method reported herein facilitates access to such species in a time-, solvent-, and space-saving manner which can easily be adapted to any laboratory setting regardless of prior experience with coordination complex synthesis.