Ammonia Synthesis via Hydrolysis of a Trianionic Pincer-type Supported Molybdenum-Nitride Complex: Modelling a Two Stage Dinitrogen Fixation Process.

Abstract

Reported is the hydrolysis of a homogeneous Mo-nitride complex bearing a trianionic pincer-type ligand to produce ammonia. Treating the anionic [(ONO)]Mo≡N(OtBu)]Ph3PCH3 with two equivalents of water produces ammonia and the dioxo complex [(ONO)]MoO2]Ph3PCH3. X-ray crystal structures of the starting nitrido complex and product dioxo complex are presented. Evidence for ammonia release comes from GC-MS and deuterium labelling studies. The reaction is presented in the context of a two-stage solar thermochemical dinitrogen fixation process as the solid-state nitride hydrolysis step.