Electrocatalytic amine dehydrogenation as a green route to nitriles: precise construction of efficient catalysts and mechanism

Abstract

Electrocatalytic amine dehydrogenation to nitriles has emerged as a green and sustainable synthetic route, providing a promising alternative to traditional energy-intensive and polluting nitrile production processes. However, this field still faces significant challenges, such as limited catalytic activity and selectivity, insufficient mechanistic understanding, and a lack of systematic integration of catalyst and system design. To address these issues, this review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in electrocatalytic nitrile synthesis from amines. Beginning with the fundamental electrocatalytic mechanisms, we focus on rational design strategies for high-performance catalysts, highlighting how catalyst structures and electrolyte components regulate interfacial properties and reaction pathways. By integrating in situ characterization, theoretical calculations, and performance evaluation, we further identify key future research directions, including multi-scale optimization of catalytic systems, electrolyzer design, and techno-economic analysis. This review aims to offer theoretical insights and practical guidance for the development of efficient, stable, and scalable electrocatalytic systems for green nitrile synthesis.