Volume 136, Issue 6 e202316131
Zuschrift

Superfast Formation of C(sp2)−N, C(sp2)−P, and C(sp2)−S Vinylic Bonds in Water Microdroplets

Yifan Meng

Yifan Meng

Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA

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Richard N. Zare

Corresponding Author

Richard N. Zare

Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA

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Elumalai Gnanamani

Corresponding Author

Elumalai Gnanamani

Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667 India

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First published: 20 December 2023

Abstract

We report examples of C(sp2)−N, C(sp2)−S, and C(sp2)−P bond-forming transformations in water microdroplets at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using N2 as a nebulizing gas. When an aqueous solution of vinylic acid and amine is electrosprayed (+3 kV), the corresponding C(sp2)−N product is formed in a single step, which was characterized using mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS2). The scope of this reaction was extended to other amines and other unsaturated acids, including acrylic (CH2=CHCOOH) and crotonic (CH3CH=CHCOOH) acids. We also found that thiols and phosphines are viable nucleophiles, and the corresponding C(sp2)−S and C(sp2)−P products are observed in positive ion mode using MS and MS2.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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