Volume 58, Issue 33 pp. 11279-11284
Communication

Dinitrogen-Molybdenum Complex Induces Dinitrogen Cleavage by One-Electron Oxidation

Dr. Akira Katayama

Dr. Akira Katayama

Department of Cooperative Major in Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso, Showa, Nagoya, 466-8555 Japan

Search for more papers by this author
Prof. Dr. Takehiro Ohta

Prof. Dr. Takehiro Ohta

Picobiology Institute, Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo, RSC-UH LP Center, Hyogo, 679-5148 Japan

Present address: Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Sanyo-Onoda City University, Sanyo-Onoda, Yamaguchi, 756-0884 Japan

Search for more papers by this author
Dr. Yuko Wasada-Tsutsui

Dr. Yuko Wasada-Tsutsui

Department of Cooperative Major in Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso, Showa, Nagoya, 466-8555 Japan

Search for more papers by this author
Prof. Dr. Tomohiko Inomata

Prof. Dr. Tomohiko Inomata

Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso, Showa, Nagoya, 466-8555 Japan

Search for more papers by this author
Prof. Dr. Tomohiro Ozawa

Prof. Dr. Tomohiro Ozawa

Department of Cooperative Major in Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso, Showa, Nagoya, 466-8555 Japan

Search for more papers by this author
Prof. Dr. Takashi Ogura

Prof. Dr. Takashi Ogura

Picobiology Institute, Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo, RSC-UH LP Center, Hyogo, 679-5148 Japan

Deceased

Search for more papers by this author
Prof. Dr. Hideki Masuda

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Hideki Masuda

Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso, Showa, Nagoya, 466-8555 Japan

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 10 June 2019
Citations: 58

Graphical Abstract

Time to split: N2 cleavage in a one-electron oxidation reaction of trans-[Mo(depe)2(N2)2], a simple molybdenum complex supported by bidentate phosphine ligands, is studied. The one-electron chemical and electrochemical oxidation reaction of Mo0 to MoI produces a MoIV terminal nitride complex via formation of MoII−N=N−MoII structures, which undergo cleavage of the bridging N2 molecule.

Abstract

Reported here is the N2 cleavage of a one-electron oxidation reaction using trans-[Mo(depe)2(N2)2] (1) (depe=Et2PCH2CH2PEt2), which is a classical molybdenum(0)-dinitrogen complex supported by two bidentate phosphine ligands. The molybdenum(IV) terminal nitride complex [Mo(depe)2N][BArf4] (2) (BArf4=B(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)4) is synthesized by the one-electron oxidation of 1 upon addition of a mild oxidant, [Cp2Fe][BArf4] (Cp=C5H5), and proceeds by N2 cleavage from a MoII-N=N-MoII structure. In addition, the electrochemical oxidation reaction for 1 also cleaved the N2 ligand to give 2. The dimeric Mo complex with a bridging N2 is detected by in situ resonance Raman and in situ UV-vis spectroscopies during the electrochemical oxidation reaction for 1. Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the unstable monomeric oxidized MoI species is converted into 2 via the dimeric structure involving a zigzag transition state.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.