Review uncovers mechanistic pathways in electrocatalytic amide synthesis, highlighting reaction conditions that bypass reagent-heavy chemical coupling.
Key Points
To review mechanistic pathways, interfacial phenomena, and selectivity control strategies in the electrocatalytic synthesis of carboxamides from carbon and nitrogen feedstocks.
Categorized electrocatalytic amidation reactions into anodic oxidative amidation, cathodic reductive amidation, and integrated full-cell electrosynthesis.
Evaluated mechanistic controls including carbonyl carbon activation, nitrogen-intermediate generation, interfacial microenvironment regulation, and reactor architecture.
Identified that adjusting electrode potentials and interfacial environments suppresses competitive side reactions such as substrate over-oxidation, over-reduction, and non-amide C–N formation.
Demonstrated that full-cell paired electrosynthesis maximizes overall energy efficiency and atom economy by coupling anodic and cathodic transformations.
Established remaining mechanistic and engineering obstacles required to scale up selective electrocatalytic carboxamide production.