Mechanocatalysis: forcing latent catalysts into action

This review summarizes the most important advances made in studying mechanochemical activation of latent catalysts (“mechanocatalysis”) over the past few years. First, a historic overview of the development of polymer mechanochemistry is given, followed by a detailed discussion on the physical aspects involved in the response of these polymer mechanocatalysts to external forces (i.e., unfolding and stretching of the polymer chains, followed by chain scission) and on the stability and activity of the resulting active (mechano)catalyst species. The results that were obtained are summarized and put in context. It is shown how the more detailed insights that were obtained from the mechanisms and processes underlying mechanochemical catalyst activation contribute to the rational design and implementation of alternative activation methods and new (mechano)catalyzed systems, with special emphasis on their potential use in truly autonomous self-healing materials.