N2HX coordination at the tripod-cobalt template CH3C(CH2PPh2)3Co: The transformation of η2-HNNMe2 into η1-NNMe2 ligands

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/cber.19971300408

While η²-coordination of N₂U₄ and N₂H₃ to tripod-cobalt entities has been reported, stabilization of N₂H₂ in this system has not yet been achieved. It is observed that [tripodCoη²-HNNMe₂)]⁺ (3) is transformed into [tripodCo(η-NNMe₂)]⁺ (4) by reaction with LiN(TMS)₂ as a base. The deprotonation of 3 is accompanied by a redox reaction, and the overall reac-tion corresponds to the transformation of 3 to 4 with the loss of an electron and a proton. The observed coupling of deprotonation and oxidation is just the reverse of the processes assumed to occur during nitrogen fixation. The results are established by the usual analytical and spectroscopic techniques as well as by X-ray analyses. VCH Verlagsgcscllschaft mbH,.