Recent Advances of Producing Biobased N-Containing Compounds via Thermo-Chemical Conversion with Ammonia Process

Biomass is regarded as an abundant feedstock for producing renewable biofuels and chemicals. Thanks to their inherent chemical functionality and reactivity, biomass resources also have infinite possibilities to replace fossil resources for producing N-containing compounds by the introduction of nitrogen heteroatoms. Thermo-chemical conversion of biomass and the derived substrates with ammonia into N-containing compounds has been identified as a promising strategy and has received growing research interest. This review summarizes recent progress in producing different N-containing compounds from biobased substrates via the thermo-chemical conversion with ammonia (TCC-A) process, which provides some valuable information for researchers to accomplish sustainable synthesis of value-added N-containing compounds. The substrate scope for producing biobased N-containing compounds covers the bioderived small molecules and raw biomass. The reaction mechanism and typical reaction pathway for the preparation of those N-containing compounds, such as pyridines, pyrroles, indoles, nitriles, and amines, are summarized and outlined. Finally, critical challenges and stimulating perspectives are provided.