Sustainable Synthesis of Nitrogen-Containing Chemicals from Biomass-Derived Carbonyls: Catalytic Strategies and Mechanistic Perspectives in Multicomponent Systems

Abstract

Nitrogen-containing chemicals (NCCs) are widely used in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, polymers, and fine chemicals. Traditional synthesis methods, based on fossil resources, pose sustainability and environmental challenges. Biomass and its derived carbonyl compounds (aldehydes, ketones), with high reactivity and structural diversity, show great potential in catalyzed amination/ammoniation for NCCs. Due to the limited systematic experimental studies on the competitive reaction mechanisms in complex multicomponent systems, there is a lack of understanding of the multicomponent reaction characteristics of biomass-derived aldehydes and ketones. By comparing the regulatory advantages and limitations of different catalytic systems in a multi-functional group environment, this review aims to identify the key factors influencing the competition and selectivity of nitrogen conversion pathways in aldehyde/ketone platform compounds. It focuses on key reaction mechanisms and strategies to control competing pathways in thermochemical conversion. It provides an in-depth analysis of the performance differences between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts in directed conversion. It also seeks to highlight the research priorities that need to be addressed in complex systems, based on existing reaction trends. Despite significant progress in optimizing reaction efficiency and selectivity, challenges remain in industrial applications. These include the complex functional group characteristics of biomass-derived aldehydes and ketones, system diversity, catalyst stability, and product separation costs. Future research should focus on the precise design of multifunctional catalysts, dynamic analysis of reaction pathways, and the development of multiscale reaction-separation coupling technologies. This review aims to promote the sustainable synthesis and large-scale application of biomass-based NCCs, supporting the low-carbon economy transition.