CAA. Revista UDCA Actualidad & Divulgación Científica · 2025

Green Synthesis: Mechanical Activation and Multicomponent Reactions

The need for sustainable development in materials technology is becoming increasingly urgent due to the environmental impact largely generated by human activity. One promising way to mitigate this impact is through green syntheses that use alternative energy sources, such as mechanical milling. This method promotes chemical reactions through the mechanical treatment of materials. It is classified either as tribochemical or mechanochemical, depending on whether it acts on all states of aggregation or only on solids, respectively. These techniques offer sustainable options by minimizing both toxic byproducts and energy consumption, and promote waste prevention or reduction. Likewise, the multicomponent reactions, which allow the synthesis of complex molecules in a single step, are addressed. These reactions are especially valuable in pharmaceutical chemistry, as they facilitate the production of compounds with medicinal properties and contribute to greater structural diversity. This paper presents a review of the topics above, analyzing their definition, development, past, current, and future applications, as well as the advantages offered by the synergy between multicomponent reactions and mechanical milling.