Articles
Nature Chemistry
‡
−1
16. Falcone, M. & Mazzanti, M. Four-electron reduction and functionalization of
Δ G =34.9kcalmol ), and agrees with the experimentally deter-
r
‡
−1
2
N by a uranium(ꢀꢀꢀ) bridging nitride. Chimia 72, 199–202 (2018).
mined barrier of ΔG (295K)=23.7(2)kcalmol (see above). Note
1
7. Falcone, M., Poon, L. N., Fadaei Tirani, F. & Mazzanti, M. Reversible
dihydrogen activation and hydride transfer by a uranium nitride complex.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 57, 3697–3700 (2018).
that in this last step the nitrido again alternates between a μ -
3
and a μ -bridging mode. The overall reaction is very exothermic
2
−
1
(
Δ H=−45.7kcalmol ), which is consistent with the lack of H/D 18. Pool, J. A., Bernskoetter, W. H. & Chirik, P. J. On the origin of dinitrogen
r
5
2
2
hydrogenation promoted by [(η -C
5
Me
4
H)
2
Zr]
2
(μ
2
2
,η ,η -N ). J. Am. Chem. Soc.
exchange when the complex is exposed to D (see above).
2
1
26, 14326–14327 (2004).
1
9. Pool, J. A., Lobkovsky, E. & Chirik, P. J. Hydrogenation and cleavage
of dinitrogen to ammonia with a zirconium complex. Nature 427,
Summary
We present a molecular tri(iron)bis(nitrido) complex that reacts
5
27–530 (2004).
with H to form NH . The initial step of H addition, which converts 20. Ohki, Y. & Fryzuk, M. D. Dinitrogen activation by group 4 metal complexes.
2
3
2
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 46, 3180–3183 (2007).
the tri(iron)bis(nitrido) complex into the mixed-valent tri(iron)
bis(imido) species, occurs in a rare SCSC transformation. This pro-
cess was followed by NMR and Mössbauer spectroscopy, allowing
2
1. Fryzuk, M. D. Side-on end-on bound dinitrogen: an activated bonding mode
that facilitates functionalizing molecular nitrogen. Acc. Chem. Res. 42,
1
27–133 (2009).
the barrier of the addition of H to be evaluated experimentally. For
2
2
22. Rodriguez, M. M., Bill, E., Brennessel, W. W. & Holland, P. L. N reduction
the solid-state conversion of complex 1 to complex 2, additional
and hydrogenation to ammonia by a molecular iron-potassium complex.
Science 334, 780–783 (2011).
DFT studies were conducted. Some key features that emerge from
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3. MacLeod, K. C. & Holland, P. L. Recent developments in the homogeneous
reduction of dinitrogen by molybdenum and iron. Nat. Chem. 5, 559 (2013).
4. MacLeod, K. C., McWilliams, S. F., Mercado, B. Q. & Holland, P. L. Stepwise
these computations are: (1) H splitting occurs along an Fe–N edge;
2
(
2) the flexibility of the N atoms is essential for a μ - to μ -(edge)
3
2
2
migration above the (Cp′Fe) moiety, significantly lowering the bar-
3
2
N–H bond formation from N -derived iron nitride, imide and amide
rier of this process to form an intermediate with a (μ -NH, μ -H)
intermediates to ammonia. Chem. Sci. 7, 5736–5746 (2016).
5. Lee, Y. et al. Dinitrogen activation upon reduction of a triiron(ꢀꢀ) complex.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 54, 1499–1503 (2015).
2
2
2
2
2
coordination mode; and (3) the Cp′ ligand is not a spectator but
actively participates as a proton relay in the H-atom transfer to the
6. Anderson, J. S., Rittle, J. & Peters, J. C. Catalytic conversion of nitrogen to
ammonia by an iron model complex. Nature 501, 84–87 (2013).
7. Reiners, M., Baabe, D., Zaretzke, M.-K., Freytag, M. & Walter, M. D.
Reversible dinitrogen binding to [Cp′Fe(NHC)] associated with an
μ -bound N atom by a ‘carambole’ mechanism.
3
Online content
Any methods, additional references, Nature Research report-
ing summaries, source data, extended data, supplementary infor-
mation, acknowledgements, peer review information; details of
2
N -induced spin state change. Chem. Commun. 53, 7274–7277 (2017).
2
2
8. Ferreira, R. B. et al. Catalytic silylation of dinitrogen by a family of triiron
complexes. ACS Catal. 8, 7208–7212 (2018).
9. Bozso, F., Ertl, G. & Weiss, M. Interaction of nitrogen with iron surfaces: II.
Fe(110). J. Catal. 50, 519–529 (1977).
Top. Catal. 1, 215–231 (1994).
3
1. Spencer, N. D., Schoonmaker, R. C. & Somorjai, G. A. Iron single crystals
as ammonia synthesis catalysts: eꢄect of surface structure on catalyst activity.
J. Catal. 74, 129–135 (1982).
Received: 23 September 2019; Accepted: 5 May 2020;
Published: xx xx xxxx
3
3
2. Weatherburn, M. W. Phenol-hypochlorite reaction for determination of
ammonia. Anal. Chem. 39, 971–974 (1967).
3. Chiang, K. P., Bellows, S. M., Brennessel, W. W. & Holland, P. L.
Multimetallic cooperativity in activation of dinitrogen at iron–potassium
sites. Chem. Sci. 5, 267–274 (2014).
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