Catalytic N₂-to-NH₃ Conversion by Fe at Lower Driving Force: A Proposed Role for Metallocene-Mediated PCET.

ABSTRACT: We have recently reported on several Fe catalysts for N₂-to-NH₃ conversion that operate at low temperature (-78 °C) and atmospheric pressure while relying on a very strong reductant (KC₈) and acid ([H(OEt₂)₂][BAr^F₄]). Here we show that our original catalyst system, P₃^BFe, achieves both significantly improved efficiency for NH₃ formation (up to 72% for e^- delivery) and a comparatively high turnover number for a synthetic molecular Fe catalyst (84 equiv of NH₃ per Fe site), when employing a significantly weaker combination of reductant (Cp*₂Co) and acid ([Ph₂NH₂][OTf] or [PhNH₃][OTf]). Relative to the previously report

SUBMITTER: Chalkley MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5364448 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature