Electrocatalytic Pathways to the Formation of C-N Bonds

Abstract

The electrochemical synthesis of organonitrogen compounds characterized by the presence of C-N bonds has emerged in the past few years as an appealing alternative for the industrial-scale production of these compounds. Given their high industrial and societal importance, finding sustainable production methods is crucial. However, their production depends on the Haber Bosch process, which has a substantial environmental impact. In response to these challenges and recognizing the scientific challenge of making C-N bonds on an electrochemical interface, there is a notable surge in interest from the scientific community. This review summarizes some of the latest contributions to electrochemical C-N bond formation (urea, amides, and amines) concerning catalyst development and reaction mechanism elucidation.