Lithium Imide Synergy with 3d Transition‐Metal Nitrides Leading to Unprecedented Catalytic Activities for Ammonia Decomposition

Alkali metals have been widely employed as catalyst promoters; however, the promoting mechanism remains essentially unclear. Li, when in the imide form, is shown to synergize with 3d transition metals or their nitrides TM(N) spreading from Ti to Cu, leading to universal and unprecedentedly high catalytic activities in NH₃ decomposition, among which Li₂NH? MnN has an activity superior to that of the highly active Ru/carbon nanotube catalyst. The catalysis is fulfilled via the two‐step cycle comprising: 1) the reaction of Li₂NH and 3d TM(N) to form ternary nitride of LiTMN and H₂, and 2) the ammoniation of LiTMN to Li₂NH, TM(N) and N₂ resulting in the neat reaction of 2 NH₃?N₂+3 H₂. Li₂NH, as an NH₃ transmitting agent, favors the formation of higher N‐content intermediate (LiTMN), where Li executes inductive effect to stabilize the TM? N bonding and thus alters the reaction energetics.     

Trimeric cluster of lithium amidoborane—the smallest unit for the modeling of hydrogen release mechanism

A detailed first‐principle DFT M06/6‐311++G(d.p) study of dehydrogenation mechanism of trimeric cluster of lithium amidoborane is presented. The first step of the reaction is association of two LiNH₂BH₃ molecules in the cluster. The dominant feature of the subsequent reaction pathway is activation of H atom of BH₃ group by three Li atoms with formation of unique Li₃H moiety. This Li₃H moiety is destroyed prior to dehydrogenation in favor of formation of a triangular Li₂H moiety, which interacts with protic H atom of NH₂ group. As a result of this interaction, Li₂H₂ moiety is produced. It features N^?? H⁺? H^? group suited near the middle plane between two Li⁺ in the transition state that leads to H₂ release. The transition states of association and hydrogen release steps are similar in energy. It is concluded that the trimer, (LiNH₂BH₃)₃, is the smallest cluster that captures the essence of the hydrogen release reaction. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Poly(triazine imide)

Poly(triazine imide) was synthesized with incorporation of Li⁺ and Cl^? ions (PTI/Li⁺Cl^?) to form a carbon nitride derivative. The synthesis of this material by the temperature‐induced condensation of dicyandiamide was examined both in a eutectic mixture of LiCl–KCl and without KCl. On the basis of X‐ray diffraction measurements of the synthesized materials, we suggest that a stoichiometric amount of LiCl is necessary to obtain the PTI/Li⁺Cl^? phase without requiring the presence of KCl at 873 K. PTI/Li⁺Cl^? with modification by either Pt or CoO_x as cocatalyst photocatalytically produced H₂ or O₂, respectively, from water. The production of H₂ or O₂ from water indicates that the valence and conduction bands of PTI/Li⁺Cl^? were properly located to achieve overall water splitting. The treatment of PTI/Li⁺Cl^? with [Pt(NH₃)₄]²⁺ cations enabled the deposition of Pt through ion exchange, demonstrating photocatalytic activity for H₂ evolution, while treatment with [PtCl₆]^2? anions resulted in no Pt deposition. This was most likely because of the preferential exchange between Li⁺ ions and [Pt(NH₃)₄]²⁺ cations.     

Bimetallic Cooperative Cleavage of Dinitrogen to Nitride and Tandem Frustrated Lewis Pair Hydrogenation to Ammonia

Although reductive cleavage of dinitrogen (N₂) to nitride (N^3?) and hydrogenation with dihydrogen (H₂) to yield ammonia (NH₃) is accomplished in heterogeneous Haber–Bosch industrial processes on a vast scale, sequentially coupling these elementary reactions together with a single metal complex remains a major challenge for homogeneous molecular complexes. Herein, we report that the reaction of a chloro titanium triamidoamine complex with magnesium effects complete reductive cleavage of N₂ to give a dinitride dititanium dimagnesium ditriamidoamine complex. Tandem H₂ splitting by a phosphine–borane frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) shuttles H atoms to the N^3?, evolving NH₃. Isotope labelling experiments confirmed N₂ and H₂ fixation. Though not yet catalytic, these results give unprecedented insight into coupling N₂ and H₂ cleavage and N?H bond formation steps together, highlight the importance of heterobimetallic cooperativity in N₂ activation, and establish FLPs in NH₃ synthesis.     

Catalytic Ammonia Oxidation to Dinitrogen by Hydrogen Atom Abstraction

Catalysts for the oxidation of NH₃ are critical for the utilization of NH₃ as a large‐scale energy carrier. Molecular catalysts capable of oxidizing NH₃ to N₂ are rare. This report describes the use of [Cp*Ru(P^tBu₂N^Ph₂)(¹⁵NH₃)][BAr^F₄], (P^tBu₂N^Ph₂=1,5‐di(phenylaza)‐3,7‐di(tert‐butylphospha)cyclooctane; Ar^F=3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃), to catalytically oxidize NH₃ to dinitrogen under ambient conditions. The cleavage of six N?H bonds and the formation of an N≡N bond was achieved by coupling H⁺ and e^? transfers as net hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) steps using the 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenoxyl radical (^tBu₃ArO^.) as the H atom acceptor. Employing an excess of ^tBu₃ArO^. under 1 atm of NH₃ gas at 23 °C resulted in up to ten turnovers. Nitrogen isotopic (¹⁵N) labeling studies provide initial mechanistic information suggesting a monometallic pathway during the N???N bond‐forming step in the catalytic cycle.     

Tuning the Electron Localization of Gold Enables the Control of Nitrogen‐to‐Ammonia Fixation

The (photo)electrochemical N₂ reduction reaction (NRR) provides a favorable avenue for the production of NH₃ using renewable energy in mild operating conditions. Understanding and building an efficient catalyst with high NH₃ selectivity represents an area of intense interest for the early stages of development for NRR. Herein, we introduce a CoO_x layer to tune the local electronic structure of Au nanoparticles with positive valence sites for boosting conversion of N₂ to NH₃. The catalysts, possessing high average oxidation states (ca. 40 %), achieve a high NH₃ yield rate of 15.1 μg cm^?2 h^?1 and a good faradic efficiency of 19 % at ?0.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Experimental results and simulations reveal that the ability to tune the oxidation state of Au enables the control of N₂ adsorption and the concomitant energy barrier of NRR. Altering the Au oxidation state provides a unique strategy for control of NRR in the production of valuable NH₃.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of 4‐methyl‐3‐thiosemicarbazide by acidic bromate

The oxidation of 4‐methyl‐3‐thiosemicarbazide (MTSC) by bromate and bromine was studied in acidic medium. The stoichiometry of the reaction is extremely complex, and is dependent on the ratio of the initial concentrations of the oxidant to reductant. In excess MTSC and after prolonged standing, the stoichiometry was determined to be H₃CN(H)CSN(H)NH₂ + 3BrO₃^? → 2CO₂ + NH₄⁺ + SO₄^2? + N₂ + 3Br^? + H⁺ (A). An interim stoichiometry is also obtained in which one of the CO₂ molecules is replaced by HCOOH with an overall stoichiometry of 3H₃CN(H)CSN(H)NH₂ + 8BrO₃^? → CO₂ + NH₄⁺ + SO₄^2? + HCOOH + N₂ + 3Br^? + 3H⁺ (B). Stoichiometry A and B are not very different, and so mixtures of the two were obtained. Compared to other oxidations of thiourea‐based compounds, this reaction is moderately fast and is first order in both bromate and substrate. It is autocatalytic in HOBr. The reaction is characterized by an autocatalytic sigmoidal decay in the consumption of MTSC, while in excess bromate conditions the reaction shows an induction period before autocatalytic formation of bromine. In both cases, oxybromine chemistry, which involves the initial formation of the reactive species HOBr and Br₂, is dominant. The reactions of MTSC with both HOBr and Br₂ are fast, and so the overall rate of oxidation is dependent upon the rates of formation of these reactive species from bromate. Our proposed mechanism involves the initial cleavage of the C? N bond on the azo‐side of the molecule to release nitrogen and an activated sulfur species that quickly and rapidly rearranges to give a series of thiourea acids. These thiourea acids are then oxidized to the sulfonic acid before cleavage of the C? S bond to give SO₄^2?, CO₂, and NH₄⁺. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 237–247, 2002     

Reindarstellung und Kristallstruktur von Lithiumnitridhydrid,Li4NH,Li4ND

Preparation and Crystal Structure of Lithium Nitride Hydride, Li₄NH, Li₄ND Single phase Li₄NH was prepared by the reaction of Li₃N and LiH at 490°C. Its structure has been solved from x-ray and time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction data. Li₄NH crystallizes in an ordered variant of the Li₂O structure. N and H occupy the sites of two interpenetrating “extended” diamond lattices. Li occupies all N₂H₂ tetrahedral voids and is found to be shifted into a N₂H tetrahedral face. As a result H is in compressed tetrahedral coordination by Li, while N is in bisdisphenoidal coordination by Li. Alternatively, the Li₄NH structure may be regarded as a [Li₄N]⁺threedimensional net, its voids being filled up with H^?. Li₄NH is a reactive solid, which decomposes to imide when in contact with N₂ or H₂ at some 400°C.     

An SCF-MO study of the electronic structure of the [LiNH3] cation and related molecules

We examine the effect of the charge and degree of protonation of a ligand on its power as a donor. The following molecules are studied [LiNH₃]⁺, LiNH₂, Li₂NH, and Li₃N, which may to a good approximation be regarded as combinations of Li⁺ ions with the ligands NH₃, NH ₂ ^? , NH^?2, and N^?3.     

Darstellung und Kristallstruktur des Lithium‐Strontium‐Hydridnitrids LiSr2H2N

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the Lithium Strontium Hydride Nitride LiSr₂H₂N LiSr₂H₂N was synthesized by the reaction of LiH and Li₃N with elemental strontium in sealed tantalum tubes at 650 °C within seven days. This second example of a quaternary hydride nitride crystallizes orthorhombically in space group Pnma (no. 62) with the lattice constants a = 747.14(5) pm, b = 370.28(3) pm and c = 1329.86(9) pm (Z = 4). Its crystal structure contains both kinds of anions H^? and N^3? in a sixfold distorted octahedral metal cation coordination each. The coordination polyhedra [(H1)Sr₅Li]¹⁰⁺, trans‐[(H2)Sr₄Li₂]⁹⁺ and [NSr₅Li]⁸⁺ are connected via edges and corners to form a three‐dimensional network. Two crystallographically different Sr²⁺ cations exhibit a sevenfold monocapped trigonal prismatic coordination by H^? and N^3? with [(Sr1)H₅N₂]^9? and [(Sr2)H₄N₃]^11? polyhedra, wheras Li⁺ shows a nearly planar fourfold coordinative environment ([LiH₃N]^5?). Cationic double chains of edge‐shared [NSr₅Li]⁸⁺ octahedra dominate the structure according to . Running parallel to the [0 1 0] direction, they are bundled like a hexagonal rod‐packing which is interconnected by H^? anions within the (0 0 1) plane first and finally even in the third dimension (i. e. along [0 0 1]). Therefore the structure of LiSr₂H₂N is compared to that one of the closely related quaternary hydride oxide LiLa₂HO₃.     

Ion–molecule reaction in the gas phase 3—nucleophilic substitution of 17ξ-R-5α,14β-androstane-14,17ξ-diols under [NH4]+ chemical ionization conditions1

Under Ammonia chemical Ionization conditions the source decompositions of [M + NH₄]⁺ ions formed from epimeric tertiary steroid alchols 14 OH_β, 17OH_α or 17 OH_β substituted at position 17 have been studied. They give rise to formation of [M + NH₄? H₂O]⁺ dentoed as [MH_sH]⁺, [M_sH? H₂O]⁺, [M_sH? NH₃]⁺ and [M_sH? NH₃? H₂O]⁺ ions. Stereochemical effects are observed in the ratios [M_sH? H₂O]⁺/[M_sH? NH₃]⁺. These effects are significant among metastable ions. In particular, only the [M_sH]⁺ ions produced from trans-diol isomers lose a water molecule. The favoured loss of water can be accounted for by an S_N2 mechanism in which the insertion of NH₃ gives [M_sH]⁺ with Walden inversion occurring during the ion-molecule reaction between [M + NH₄]⁺ + NH₃. The S_N1 and S_Ni pathways have been rejected.     

Interconversion of Molybdenum Imido and Amido Complexes by Proton‐Coupled Electron Transfer

Interconversion of the molybdenum amido [(^PhTpy)(PPh₂Me)₂Mo(NHtBuAr)][BArF²⁴] (^PhTpy=4′‐Ph‐2,2′,6′,2“‐terpyridine; tBuAr=4‐tert‐butyl‐C₆H₄; ArF²⁴=(C₆H₃‐3,5‐(CF₃)₂)₄) and imido [(^PhTpy)(PPh₂Me)₂Mo(NtBuAr)][BArF²⁴] complexes has been accomplished by proton‐coupled electron transfer. The 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenoxyl radical was used as an oxidant and the non‐classical ammine complex [(^PhTpy)(PPh₂Me)₂Mo(NH₃)][BArF²⁴] as the reductant. The N?H bond dissociation free energy (BDFE) of the amido N?H bond formed and cleaved in the sequence was experimentally bracketed between 45.8 and 52.3 kcal mol^?1, in agreement with a DFT‐computed value of 48 kcal mol^?1. The N?H BDFE in combination with electrochemical data eliminate proton transfer as the first step in the N?H bond‐forming sequence and favor initial electron transfer or concerted pathways.     

Catalytic Ammonia Oxidation to Dinitrogen by a Nickel Complex

We report a nickel complex for catalytic oxidation of ammonia to dinitrogen under ambient conditions. Using the aryloxyl radical 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenoxyl (^tBu₃ArO⋅) as a H atom acceptor to cleave the N−H bond of a coordinated NH₃ ligand up to 56 equiv of N₂ per Ni center can be generated. Employing the N-oxyl radical 2,2,6,6-(tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO⋅) as the H-atom acceptor, up to 15 equiv of N₂ per Ni center are formed. A bridging Ni-hydrazine product identified by isotopic nitrogen (¹⁵N) studies and supported by computational models indicates the N−N bond forming step occurs by bimetallic homocoupling of two paramagnetic [Ni]−NH₂ fragments. Ni-mediated hydrazine disproportionation to N₂ and NH₃ completes the catalytic cycle.     

Electrocatalysis of N2 to NH3 by HKUST‐1 with High NH3 Yield

Electrolytic ammonia synthesis from nitrogen at ambient conditions is appearing as a promising alternative to the Haber‐Bosch process which is consuming high energy and emitting CO₂. Here, a typical MOF material, HKUST‐1 (Cu?BTC, BTC=benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylate), was selected as an electrocatalyst for the reaction of converting N₂ to NH₃ under ambient conditions. At ?0.75 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, it achieves excellent catalytic performance in the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia with high NH₃ yield (46.63 μg h^?1 mg^?1 _cat. or 4.66 μg h^?1 cm^?2) and good Faraday efficiency (2.45%). It is indicated that the good performance of the HKUST‐1 catalyst may originate from the formation of Cu(I). In addition, the catalyst also has good selectivity for N₂ to NH₃.     

Analogues of Cis‐ and Transplatin with a Rich Solution Chemistry: cis‐[PtCl2(NH3)(1‐MeC‐N3)] and trans‐[PtI2(NH3)(1‐MeC‐N3)]

Mono(nucleobase) complexes of the general composition cis‐[PtCl₂(NH₃)L] with L=1‐methylcytosine, 1‐MeC ( 1 a ) and L=1‐ethyl‐5‐methylcytosine, as well as trans‐[PtX₂(NH₃)(1‐MeC)] with X=I ( 5 a ) and X=Br ( 5 b ) have been isolated and were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The Pt coordination occurs through the N3 atom of the cytosine in all cases. The diaqua complexes of compounds 1 a and 5 a , cis‐[Pt(H₂O)₂(NH₃)(1‐MeC)]²⁺ and trans‐[Pt(H₂O)₂(NH₃)(1‐MeC)]²⁺, display a rich chemistry in aqueous solution, which is dominated by extensive condensation reactions leading to μ‐OH‐ and μ‐(1‐MeC^?‐N3,N4)‐bridged species and ready oxidation of Pt to mixed‐valence state complexes as well as diplatinum(III) compounds, one of which was characterized by X‐ray crystallography: h,t‐[{Pt(NH₃)₂(OH)(1‐MeC^?‐N3,N4)}₂](NO₃)₂ ? 2 [NH₄](NO₃) ? 2 H₂O. A combination of ¹H NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry was applied to identify some of the various species present in solution and the gas phase, respectively. As it turned out, mass spectrometry did not permit an unambiguous assignment of the structures of +1 cations due to the possibilities of realizing multiple bridging patterns in isomeric species, the occurrence of different tautomers, and uncertainties regarding the Pt oxidation states. Additionally, compound 1 a was found to have selective and moderate antiproliferative activity for a human cervix cancer line (SISO) compared to six other human cancer cell lines.     

The [CH5NO]+ ˙ potential energy surface: Distonic ions,lon-dipole complexes and hydrogen-bridged radical cations

By combining results from a variety of mass spectrometric techniques (metastable ion, collisional activation, collision-induced dissociative ionization, neutralization-reionization spectrometry, ²H, ¹³C and ¹⁸O isotopic labelling and appearance energy measurements) and high-level ab initio molecular orbital calculations, the potential energy surface of the [CH₅NO]^{+ ˙} system has been explored. The calculations show that at least nine stable isomers exist. These include the conventional species [CH₃ONH₂]^{+ ˙} and [HO? CH₂? NH₂]^{+ ˙}, the distonic ions [O? CH₂? NH₃]^{+ ˙}, [O? NH₂? CH₃]^{+ ˙}, [CH₂? O(H)? NH₂]^{+ ˙}, [HO? NH₂? CH₂]^{+ ˙}, and the ion-dipole complex CH₂?NH₂⁺ …? OH˙. Surprisingly the distonic ion [CH₂? O? NH₃]^{+ ˙} was found not to be a stable species but to dissociate spontaneously to CH₂?O + NH₃^{+ ˙}. The most stable isomer is the hydrogen-bridged radical cation [H? C?O …? H …? NH₃]^{+ ˙} which is best viewed as an immonium cation interacting with the formyl dipole. The related species [CH₂?O …? H …? NH₂]^{+ ˙}, in which an ammonium radical cation interacts with the formaldehyde dipole is also a very stable ion. It is generated by loss of CO from ionized methyl carbamate, H₂N? C(?O)? OCH₃ and the proposed mechanism involves a 1,4-H shift followed by intramolecular ‘dictation’ and CO extrusion. The [CH₂?O …? H …? NH₂]^{+ ˙} product ions fragment exothermically, but via a barrier, to NH₄^{+ ˙} HCO^…? and to H₃N? C(H)?O^{+ ˙} H˙. Metastable ions [CH₃ONH₂]^+…? dissociate, via a large barrier, to CH₂?O + NH₃⁺ + and to [CH₂NH₂]⁺ + OH˙ but not to CH₂?O^{+ ˙} + NH₃. The former reaction proceeds via a 1,3-H shift after which dissociation takes place immediately. Loss of OH˙ proceeds formally via a 1,2-CH₃ shift to produce excited [O? NH₂? CH₃]^{+ ˙}, which rearranges to excited [HO? NH₂? CH₂]^{+ ˙} via a 1,3-H shift after which dissociation follows.     

NH4[Re3Cl10(OH2)2] · 2 H2O: Synthese und Struktur Ein Beispiel für starke N?H …︁ O- und O?H …︁ Cl-Bindungen

NH₄[Re₃Cl₁₀(OH₂)₂] · 2 H₂O: Synthesis and Structure. An Example for “Strong” N? H …? O and O? H …? Cl Hydrogen Bonding The red NH₄[Re₃Cl₁₀(OH₂)₂] · 2 H₂O crystallizes from hydrochloric-acid solutions of ReCl₃ with NH₄Cl. It is tetragonal, P4₁2₁2, No. 92, a = 1157.6, c = 1614.5 pm, Z = 4. The crystal structure contains “isolated” clusters [Re₃Cl₁₀(OH₂)₂]^?. These contain Cl…?H? O? H…?Cl units with “very strong” hydrogen bonds: distances Cl? O are only 286 pm. NH₄⁺ has seven Cl^? as nearest neighbours and, additionally, one H₂O which belongs to a cluster [d(N? O1) = 271 pm] and one crystal water [d(N? O2) = 286 pm].     

catena‐Poly­[[di­aqua­lithium(I)]‐μ‐[9H‐purine‐2,6(1H,3H)‐dionato‐O2:N7]]

In the title compound, [Li(C₅H₃N₄O₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, the coordinate geometry about the Li⁺ ion is distorted tetrahedral and the Li⁺ ion is bonded to N and O atoms of adjacent ligand mol­ecules forming an infinite polymeric chain with Li—O and Li—N bond lengths of 1.901 (5) and 2.043 (6) Å, respectively. Tetrahedral coordination at the Li⁺ ion is completed by two cis water mol­ecules [Li—O 1.985 (6) and 1.946 (6) Å]. The crystal structure is stabilized both by the polymeric structure and by a hydrogen‐bond network involving N—H?O, O—H?O and O—H?N hydrogen bonds.     

Reactivity in the gas phase. Behaviour of isoxazoles under negative ion chemical ionization conditions

[M ? H⁺]^? ions of isoxazole (la), 3-methylisoxazole (1b), 5-methylisoxazole (1c), 5-phenylisoxazole (1d) and benzoylacetonitrile (2a) are generated using NICI/OH^? or NICI/NH₂^? techniques. Their fragmentation pathways are rationalized on the basis of collision-induced dissociation and mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra and by deuterium labelling studies. 5-Substituted isoxazoles 1c and 1d, after selective deprotonation at position 3, mainly undergo N ? O bond cleavage to the stable α-cyanoenolate NC ? CH ? CR ? O^? (R = Me, Ph) that fragments by loss of R? CN, or R? H, or H₂O. The same α-cyanoenolate anion (R = Ph) is obtained from 2a with OH^?, or NH₂^?, confirming the structure assigned to the [M ? H⁺]^? ion of 1d, On the contrary, 1b is deprotonated mainly at position 5 leading, via N? O and C(3)? C(4) bond cleavages, to H? C ≡ C? O ^? and CH₃CN. Isoxazole (1a) undergoes deprotonation at either position and subsequent fragmentations. Deuterium labelling revealed an extensive exchange between the hydrogen atoms in the ortho position of the phenyl group and the deuterium atom in the α-cyanenolate NC ? CD = CPh ? O^?.     

Two inclusion compounds of guanylthiourea and 1,3,5-thiadiazole-5-amido-2-carbamate

In the crystal structure of [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]⁺·[NH₂(C₂N₂S)NHCOO^?]·NH₂CSNC(NH₂)₂ (1), guanylthiourea molecules and 1,3,5-thiadiazole-5-amido-2-carbamate ions are joined together by intermolecular N–H…O, N–H…N, and weak N–H…S hydrogen bonds to generate stacked host layers corresponding to the (110) family of planes, between which the tetra-n-butylammonium guest cations are orderly arranged in a sandwich-like manner. In the crystal structure of [(n-C₃H₇)₄N]⁺·[NH₂(C₂N₂S)NHCOO^?]·NH₂CSNC(NH₂)₂·H₂O (2), the tetrapropyl ammonium cations are stacked within channels each composed of hydrogen bonded ribbons of guanylthiourea molecules, 1,3,5-thiadiazole-5-amido-2-carbamate ions and water molecules.