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  • Review Article
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Construction of C–N bonds from small-molecule precursors through heterogeneous electrocatalysis

Nature Reviews Chemistry volume 6, pages 303–319 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Energy-intensive thermochemical processes within chemical manufacturing are a major contributor to global CO2 emissions. With the increasing push for sustainability, the scientific community is striving to develop renewable energy-powered electrochemical technologies in lieu of CO2-emitting fossil-fuel-driven methods. However, to fully electrify chemical manufacturing, it is imperative to expand the scope of electrosynthetic technologies, particularly through the innovation of reactions involving nitrogen-based reactants. This Review focuses on a rapidly emerging area, namely the formation of C–N bonds through heterogeneous electrocatalysis. The C–N bond motif is found in many fertilizers (such as urea) as well as commodity and fine chemicals (with functional groups such as amines and amides). The ability to generate C–N bonds from reactants such as CO2, NO3– or N2 would provide sustainable alternatives to the thermochemical routes used at present. We start by examining thermochemical, enzymatic and molecular catalytic systems for C–N bond formation, identifying how concepts from these can be translated to heterogeneous electrocatalysis. Next, we discuss successful heterogeneous electrocatalytic systems and highlight promising research directions. Finally, we discuss the remaining questions and knowledge gaps and thus set the trajectory for future advances in heterogeneous electrocatalytic formation of C–N bonds.

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Fig. 1: Heterogeneous electrocatalysis for C–N coupling.
Fig. 2: Examples of key C–N-bond-forming reactions across different catalytic domains.
Fig. 3: Amide and urea synthesis.
Fig. 4: Amine synthesis and characterization.
Fig. 5: Effective strategies for heterogeneous electrocatalytic C–N coupling.
Fig. 6: Future strategies for electrochemical C–N coupling.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant (RGPIN-2019-05927) and an American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (ACS PRF) New Directions Grant (65093-ND5).

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Junnan Li, Yuxuan Zhang, Kiran Kuruvinashetti.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

    Junnan Li, Yuxuan Zhang, Kiran Kuruvinashetti & Nikolay Kornienko

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Glossary

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction

The cathodic reduction of solubilized N2 to NH3. This process requires three electrons per NH3 molecule.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction

The cathodic reduction of CO2 to various carbon-based products. C1 products such as CO and HCOOH are generally the easiest to produce and require only 2e– but are less valuable than C2 products such as C2H4 or CH3CH2OH.

Reversible hydrogen electrode

(RHE). A frequently used electrochemical potential scale in which the H+/H2 potential is set to 0 V and the H2O/O2 potential is consequently always 1.23 V.

Selectivity

A measure of the production rate of the desired products divided by that of the total products; can be measured on a per-mole or per-electron basis.

H-cell

Three-electrode setup in which the counter electrode is placed in a separate chamber separated by an ion-permeable membrane to prevent the re-oxidation or reduction of reaction products.

Gas diffusion electrode

Electrode configuration comprising hydrophobic, gas-permeable fibres on which a compact conductive carbon layer loaded with the catalyst is situated; enables high current densities to be obtained with poorly soluble gaseous reactants.

Faradaic efficiency

(FE). The selectivity, on a per-electron basis, of a catalytic system towards a particular reaction product as a function of the total number of electrons that have passed through the circuit; it is often given as a percentage value.

Temperature-programmed desorption

(TPD). Technique that monitors the desorption of species from a surface as the temperature is gradually increased; useful in comparing the relative binding energies of reactants on different catalysts.

Activity

A measure of a catalyst’s turnover rate under a given set of conditions. Most relevant to electrochemical systems are the electrolyte and applied voltage, whereas in thermochemical systems, temperature and pressure are the primary metrics.

Nitrogenase

Enzyme that reduces N2 to NH3 in nature.

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Li, J., Zhang, Y., Kuruvinashetti, K. et al. Construction of C–N bonds from small-molecule precursors through heterogeneous electrocatalysis. Nat Rev Chem 6, 303–319 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-022-00379-5

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