Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Urea Cycle01:23

Urea Cycle

44.0K
The urea cycle describes how liver cells convert ammonia to urea. Ammonia is a toxic waste product of protein catabolism. Land animals must convert ammonia into the less toxic urea which can be safely eliminated by the kidneys through urine. Marine animals excrete ammonia directly, and the surrounding water dilutes the ammonia to safe levels.
44.0K
Preparation of 1° Amines: Gabriel Synthesis01:28

Preparation of 1° Amines: Gabriel Synthesis

3.5K
Direct alkylation is not a suitable method for synthesizing amines because it produces polyalkylated products. Gabriel synthesis is the most preferred method to exclusively make primary amines. The method uses phthalimide, which contains a protected form of nitrogen that participates in alkylation only once to predominantly give primary amines.
Strong bases like NaOH or KOH deprotonate the phthalimide to form the corresponding anion, which acts as a nucleophile. Further, the anion attacks an...
3.5K
Coupled Reactions01:17

Coupled Reactions

7.6K
Cellular processes such as building and breaking down complex molecules occur through stepwise chemical reactions. Some of these chemical reactions are spontaneous and release energy, whereas others require energy to proceed. Cells often couple the energy-releasing reaction with the energy-requiring one to carry out important cell functions. 
Energy in adenosine triphosphate or ATP molecules is easily accessible to do work. ATP powers the majority of energy-requiring cellular reactions....
7.6K
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Enamine Formation Mechanism01:14

Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Enamine Formation Mechanism

5.4K
Enamine formation involves the addition of carbonyl compounds to a secondary amine through a series of reactions. The mechanism begins with the generation of carbinolamine, a nucleophilic attack followed by several proton transfer reactions. The hydroxyl group of the carbinolamine is converted into water to make a better leaving group that can push the reaction forward by eliminating a water molecule. In enamine formation, the last step involves the abstraction of a proton from the α carbon to...
5.4K
Preparation of Amines: Alkylation of Ammonia and Amines01:30

Preparation of Amines: Alkylation of Ammonia and Amines

3.3K
Alkylation is one of the methods used to prepare amines. Direct alkylation of ammonia or a primary amine with an alkyl halide gives polyalkylated amines along with a quaternary ammonium salt through successive SN2 reactions. This process of making the quaternary salt through the direct alkylation method is called exhaustive alkylation.
Each alkylation step makes the nitrogen center more nucleophilic, which triggers successive alkylations until a quaternary ammonium salt is formed. Considering...
3.3K
Preparation of Alkynes: Alkylation Reaction02:27

Preparation of Alkynes: Alkylation Reaction

10.0K
Introduction
Alkylation of terminal alkynes with primary alkyl halides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide is one of the common methods for the synthesis of longer carbon-chain alkynes. For example, treatment of 1-propyne with sodium amide followed by reaction with ethyl bromide yields 2-pentyne.
10.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cross-Interface Quasi-Tandem Catalysis Over Amorphous Oxide-Metal Junctions Steers CO<sub>2</sub> Electroreduction Toward C<sub>3</sub> Products.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026
Same author

Interfacial Confinement-Programmed Hydrogen Spillover on Ag/CoNiS Boosts Nitrate-to-Ammonia Electrosynthesis.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same author

Correction to: Perspectives Towards AI and ML.

Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology·2026
Same author

Phase-Resolved Dual Control of Phenol Photodissociation at the Air-Water Interface From Structure-Resolved Statistics.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

Catalytic nano-metal interfaces drive pH-universal CO<sub>2</sub>-to-ethanol conversion.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Zwitterionic carbamate interfaces unlock efficient "liquid" CO<sub>2</sub> upgrading.

Science advances·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
09:50

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Published on: January 22, 2015

12.7K

Directing the C-N Coupling Pathway Enables Efficient Urea Electrosynthesis.

Bihao Hu1, Ruihu Lu2, Wenlong Wang1

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|June 12, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Boron-doped copper catalysts enhance urea synthesis by optimizing the C-N coupling intermediate, *NO2. This boosts urea selectivity and production rates, crucial for closing the artificial nitrogen cycle.

More Related Videos

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
08:40

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production

Published on: December 6, 2021

3.5K
Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure
08:14

Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure

Published on: August 23, 2017

26.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
09:50

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Published on: January 22, 2015

12.7K
Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
08:40

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production

Published on: December 6, 2021

3.5K
Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure
08:14

Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure

Published on: August 23, 2017

26.5K

Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

  • Electrocatalytic urea synthesis is vital for the artificial nitrogen cycle.
  • Low urea selectivity and energy efficiency stem from sluggish C-N coupling, competing with nitrate and CO2 reduction.
  • The intermediate *NO2 plays a critical role in urea formation versus hydrogenation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the *NO2 intermediate in urea electrosynthesis.
  • To enhance urea selectivity and energy efficiency by manipulating *NO2 reactivity.
  • To develop efficient electrocatalysts for urea production via co-electroreduction of nitrate and CO2.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical investigations of *NO2 adsorption and reaction pathways on copper surfaces.
  • Synthesis and characterization of boron-doped copper (Cu-B) electrocatalysts.
  • Electrochemical measurements of urea synthesis, including Faradaic efficiency and production rates.

Main Results:

  • Decreasing *NO2 adsorption energy on Cu favors C-N coupling over hydrogenation.
  • Boron doping of Cu suppresses *NO2 hydrogenation and lowers the barrier for C-N coupling.
  • Cu-B catalysts achieved >80% urea Faradaic efficiency at -0.22 V vs RHE, with a production rate of 101.2 μmol h-1 cm-2.
  • Pristine Cu showed low urea selectivity (19%) and production rate (<20 μmol h-1 cm-2).

Conclusions:

  • Boron doping is an effective strategy to enhance urea electrosynthesis selectivity and efficiency.
  • Optimizing the *NO2 intermediate's reactivity is key for efficient C-N bond formation.
  • This work provides insights for designing advanced electrocatalysts for sustainable urea production.