B(iii)-catalyzed synthesis of spirooxindole and dihydro-2-oxopyrrole under solventless conditions in a ball mill, along with DFT computations.

Mechanochemical synthesis of heterocyclic compounds is a growing research field due to its simplicity and environmental compatibility. Solvent-free mechanochemical reactions using a ball mill not only eliminate the need for bulky solvents and reduce waste but also open the door to the synthesis of various organic compounds, including common drugs. Combining two different acids, including molybdic acid (MoO(HO) complex structure) and Lewis acid BF, is a smart strategy to prepare a new and porous cluster nano-catalyst with high acidic properties (pH = 1).