Hydroxyl and nitrate co-upgrading to oxime via anode-cathode cascade electrolyzer
Abstract Oximes are crucial intermediates in the production of polymers and pharmaceuticals. Conventional synthesis methods, involving the hydrogenation of nitrogen oxides and nucleophilic addition of hydroxylamine to carbonyl compounds, are energy-intensive and hazardous. Here, we report an economi...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61186-2 |
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| author | Ouwen Peng Qikun Hu Mengtian Jin Mengyao Su Jia Liu Bo Li Shibo Xi Chun Cheng Kian Ping Loh |
| author_facet | Ouwen Peng Qikun Hu Mengtian Jin Mengyao Su Jia Liu Bo Li Shibo Xi Chun Cheng Kian Ping Loh |
| author_sort | Ouwen Peng |
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| description | Abstract Oximes are crucial intermediates in the production of polymers and pharmaceuticals. Conventional synthesis methods, involving the hydrogenation of nitrogen oxides and nucleophilic addition of hydroxylamine to carbonyl compounds, are energy-intensive and hazardous. Here, we report an economical and sustainable electrosynthesis route to oximes using hydroxyl compounds and nitrate in an anode-cathode cascade electrolyzer. In this system, hydroxyl compounds are first dehydrogenated to ketones at a cobalt oxyhydroxide anode, followed by the subsequent co-reduction of ketones with nitrate at a Cu-substituted Fe3C cathode to form oximes. The cascade electrolyzer exhibits robust performance over 72 h at 2.8 V, achieving a high pyruvatoxime yield of 2.61 mmol cm–2 h–1 with a Faradaic efficiency of 101%. This versatile method accommodates diverse feedstocks, enabling the production of various relevant commodities. Process modeling and techno-economic analysis confirm the viability and cost-effectiveness of this innovative approach, offering a more sustainable pathway to essential chemical intermediates. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aaa734438993415e8f91822cd6122bf4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-aaa734438993415e8f91822cd6122bf42025-08-20T03:45:35ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-61186-2Hydroxyl and nitrate co-upgrading to oxime via anode-cathode cascade electrolyzerOuwen Peng0Qikun Hu1Mengtian Jin2Mengyao Su3Jia Liu4Bo Li5Shibo Xi6Chun Cheng7Kian Ping Loh8Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Chemistry, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Chemistry, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Chemistry, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyInstitute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Chemistry, National University of SingaporeAbstract Oximes are crucial intermediates in the production of polymers and pharmaceuticals. Conventional synthesis methods, involving the hydrogenation of nitrogen oxides and nucleophilic addition of hydroxylamine to carbonyl compounds, are energy-intensive and hazardous. Here, we report an economical and sustainable electrosynthesis route to oximes using hydroxyl compounds and nitrate in an anode-cathode cascade electrolyzer. In this system, hydroxyl compounds are first dehydrogenated to ketones at a cobalt oxyhydroxide anode, followed by the subsequent co-reduction of ketones with nitrate at a Cu-substituted Fe3C cathode to form oximes. The cascade electrolyzer exhibits robust performance over 72 h at 2.8 V, achieving a high pyruvatoxime yield of 2.61 mmol cm–2 h–1 with a Faradaic efficiency of 101%. This versatile method accommodates diverse feedstocks, enabling the production of various relevant commodities. Process modeling and techno-economic analysis confirm the viability and cost-effectiveness of this innovative approach, offering a more sustainable pathway to essential chemical intermediates.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61186-2 |
| spellingShingle | Ouwen Peng Qikun Hu Mengtian Jin Mengyao Su Jia Liu Bo Li Shibo Xi Chun Cheng Kian Ping Loh Hydroxyl and nitrate co-upgrading to oxime via anode-cathode cascade electrolyzer Nature Communications |
| title | Hydroxyl and nitrate co-upgrading to oxime via anode-cathode cascade electrolyzer |
| title_full | Hydroxyl and nitrate co-upgrading to oxime via anode-cathode cascade electrolyzer |
| title_fullStr | Hydroxyl and nitrate co-upgrading to oxime via anode-cathode cascade electrolyzer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydroxyl and nitrate co-upgrading to oxime via anode-cathode cascade electrolyzer |
| title_short | Hydroxyl and nitrate co-upgrading to oxime via anode-cathode cascade electrolyzer |
| title_sort | hydroxyl and nitrate co upgrading to oxime via anode cathode cascade electrolyzer |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61186-2 |
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