Electrocatalytic C─N Coupling in Aqueous Solutions for High-Value Product Synthesis

Organic nitrogen-containing compounds, such as urea, amines, amides, and amino acids, play a crucial role in global biogeochemical cycles and industrial systems. Electrocatalytic C─N coupling, enabling reactions under mild conditions (room temperature/pressure) and utilizing a range of feedstocks (CO₂, CO, N₂, NO₃ ^-, and NH₃, etc.), has emerged as a sustainable alternative for the synthesis of these chemicals. Recent advancements in diversifying product scopes via C─N coupling methodologies have significantly enhanced reaction versatility and conversion efficiency. These developments enable novel reaction pathways while addressing critical challenges, such as slow kinetics (e.g., high bond dissociation energies in N≡N or C═O bonds) and competing reactions. This review comprehensively examines the progress in electrochemical C─N coupling, with a focus on reaction mechanisms across diverse systems and the advanced catalysts driving these transformations. Furthermore, we summarize the integrated electrolytic cell design to bridge laboratory-scale breakthroughs with sustainable large-scale production. By overcoming existing limitations, electrocatalytic synthesis holds the potential to transform chemical manufacturing while mitigating environmental impacts.