title: Observation of replacement of carbon in benzene with nitrogen in a low-temperature plasma.
abstract: Selective activation of benzene has been mainly limited to the C-H activation. Simple replacement of one carbon in benzene with another atom remains unresolved due to the high dissociation energy. Herein, we demonstrate a direct breakage of the particularly strong C = C bond in benzene through ion-molecule reaction in a low-temperature plasma, in which one carbon atom was replaced by one atomic nitrogen with the formation of pyridine. The mechanism for the formation of pyridine from benzene has been proposed based on the extensive investigation with tandem mass spectrometry. The reaction pathway also works to other aromatics such as toluene and o-xylene. This finding provides a new avenue for selective conversion of aromatics into nitrogen-containing compounds.
authors: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an 710065 (China).
authors: Zhiping
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Xiaoyun
authors: X
authors: Gong
authors: Sichun
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Haijun
authors: H
authors: Yang
authors: Youmin
authors: Y
authors: Shi
authors: Chengdui
authors: C
authors: Yang
authors: Xinrong
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Xingchuang
authors: X
authors: Xiong
authors: Xiang
authors: X
authors: Fang
authors: Zheng
authors: Z
authors: Ouyang