From Dinitrogen to N‐Containing Organic Compounds: Using Li2CN2 as a Synthon

Abstract Through the synergies of a heterogeneous synthetic approach and a homogeneous synthetic methodology, N‐containing organic compounds can be synthesized via activated N‐containing species prepared from N 2 gas and suitable carbon sources. From N 2 , carbon, and LiH, we have previously succeeded in the high‐yield preparation of Li 2 CN 2 as the activated N‐containing species. In this work, we applied Li 2 CN 2 as a novel synthetic synthon for constructing N‐containing organic compounds. A series of reaction models, including a substitution reaction, cycloaddition reaction, and transition metal‐catalyzed coupling reaction, were successfully performed using Li 2 CN 2 under mild conditions. Various valuable cyanamides, carbodiimides, N‐aryl cyanamides and 1,2,4‐triazole derivatives were readily synthesized in moderate to excellent yields. With this method, the 15 N‐labeled products, including oxazolidine derivatives with anti‐cancer activity, could also be facilely prepared from 15 N 2 gas.