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Nature 446, 381-382 (22 March 2007) | doi:10.1038/446381a; Published online 21 March 2007

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Mechanochemistry: A reaction to stress

Brad M. Rosen1 & Virgil Percec1

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Chemists usually kick-start reactions with heat, light or electricity, but a far less common option is to use mechanical stress. It now seems that stress not only triggers reactions, but can also direct their course.

When frustrated by a failed reaction, many disheartened chemists wish that they could simply reach into their flasks and pull apart any uncooperative chemical bonds. Although molecule-sized tweezers are still not on the market, on page 423 of this issue Jeffrey Moore and colleagues1 disclose a technique that may one day grant chemists their wish: a mechanical method for controlling the reactivity of molecules.

  1. Brad M. Rosen and Virgil Percec are in the Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, USA.
    Email: percec@sas.upenn.edu

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