Fig. 5: Transformation and coupling mechanism for the C- and N-intermediates.

a Control experiments for CH3CONH2 synthesis by replacing CH3CH2OH with CH3CHO as the C-source; GC (b) and 1H NMR (c) results with D- (images right) and H-labeling (images left) respectively; d DMPO-trapping in situ EPR experiments with 14N- (image above) and 15N-labeling (image below) respectively; e in situ EPR spectra for e−-induced TEMPO consumption with (image below) and without (image above) NH3 provision respectively; f HR-MS results for CH3CONH2 detection with 14N- (image above) and 15N-labeling (image below) respectively; g Proposed reaction pathways of CH3CH2OH and NH3 co-oxidation for intermediates coupling and CH3CONH2 synthesis. The error bars in (e) were drawn based on the calculated standard error of two parallel tests.