A Greener Pathway to Enantiopurity: Mechanochemical Deracemization through Abrasive Grinding

Abstract

AbstractWe report the first case of mechanochemical deracemization by using liquid‐assisted abrasive grinding. The target molecule is a precursor of Paclobutrazol, an important fungicide and plant growth inhibitor. Using mechanochemical deracemization, we are even able to transform a 10 % ee scalemic mixture of this latter in an enantioenriched product of 97 % ee in a couple of hours. This is substantially shorter compared to solution‐based deracemization methodologies. The present paper thus introduces an efficient and greener process to enantiopure material.