Recent Progress in the Electrochemical Formation of C−N Bonds for Construction of Organic Compounds via the Use of NO_x/NO_x⁻

Abstract

Emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) species (NO and NO2) and nitrate/nitrite NOx−, such as NO3− and NO2−, have led to serious water pollution and climate challenges. How to remove these wastes is a global problem that urgently needs to be addressed. As reported, electrochemical catalytic technology under ambient conditions is of great interest for NOx/NOx− removal. Additionally, the in situ utilization of surface‐adsorbed nucleophilic intermediates generated from the electrochemical reduction of NOx/NOx− can provide a sustainable strategy for building C–N bonds, upgrading waste NOx/NOx− into value‐added organic products, such as amines, oximes, amides, and amino acids, while remediating the environment. This review summarizes the most recent progress in the construction of nitrogen compounds by coupling electrochemical NOx/NOx− reduction reactions with inorganic/organic substrates, focuses on understanding the adsorption–transformation mechanism during the NOx/NOx− reduction process, and discusses multiple side reactions and complex pathways. Important strategies, such as coupled system development and catalyst preparation, are also presented to broaden the range of nitrogen compounds and improve yields. Finally, a few key challenges and future research directions for the development of efficient and low‐cost electrochemical C–N coupling processes are discussed.