Guest-release reactions are ubiquitous in natural systems. However, analogous guest release in synthetic molecular systems often results in potentially irreversible host-guest reactions, limiting materials’ reusability. Herein, we report a conceptually different guest-release strategy, facilitated by mechanical-force-induced coordination-bond cleavage by ball milling with a mixer mill. This solid-state method can be applied to a broad range of coordination complexes, including cages, capsules, and even MOFs. As opposed to conventional host-guest chemistry in solution, this force-induced approach is not dictated by host-guest affinity; therefore, even strong binding guests that are difficult to liberate by conventional means can be promoted. We further demonstrated a synthetic guest-release/uptake cycle solely driven by mechanical force, and we believe that this reversible force-triggered behavior is expected to find broad applications in controlled-release and stimuli-responsive materials in the solid state.

客体释放反应在自然系统中普遍存在。然而，合成分子系统中类似的客体释放通常会导致潜在不可逆的主客体反应，从而限制了材料的可重复使用性。在此，我们报告了一种概念上不同的客体释放策略，通过使用混合研磨机球磨的机械力诱导的配位键断裂来促进。这种固态方法可应用于广泛的配位配合物，包括笼、胶囊，甚至 MOF。与溶液中传统的主客体化学相反，这种力诱导的方法不受主客体亲和力的影响；因此，即使是难以通过常规手段释放的强结合客体也可以被促进。我们进一步证明了仅由机械力驱动的合成客体释放/摄取循环，我们相信这种可逆的力触发行为有望在固态控释和刺激响应材料中找到广泛的应用。