Sustainable Imine Production Using Alkanes as Substrates via a Plasma-Microdroplet Approach

The direct functionalization of alkanes remains a formidable challenge in synthetic chemistry. Herein, we present an integrated plasma-microdroplet approach for the efficient conversion of alkanes into imines under mild conditions. By employing plasma discharge in a nitrogen atmosphere, inert C-H bonds are selectively activated, generating abundant N-insertion intermediates. These species are then captured by electrosprayed microdroplets, where they undergo rapid transimination with gaseous primary amines, yielding imines with high efficiency. Real-time mass spectrometry analysis reveals a two-step mechanism: initial plasma-driven alkane functionalization followed by microdroplet-accelerated transimination. By synergistically combining the high activation capability of nonthermal plasma with the enhanced reaction dynamics of microdroplets, this method establishes a green alternative to conventional thermal catalysis for sustainable chemical transformation from inert substrates.