Plasma–microdroplet fusion enables catalyst-free amine alkylations

A combination of microdroplet and plasma chemistry has enabled the selective, uncatalysed alkylation of primary amines at an accelerated rate. The US-based team behind the work say that the process offers a greener way to access N-alkylated compounds.

C–N bonds are ubiquitous throughout organic chemistry and reactions that form this linkage are vital tools for synthetic chemists. Existing methods based on catalysis and substitution reactions such as hydroamination are notoriously unsustainable, often requiring high temperatures, rare metals , or forming problematic side products. Some researchers believe that non-thermal plasma chemistry offers a greener alternative. The technique involves generating high-energy particles in the gas phase by passing them through an electric field. The reactant particles are sufficiently energised to undergo reaction without a catalyst or high temperatures, but the process is limited by poor selectivity and scalability.