Analysis of spin states, spin barriers, and trans-effects involved in the coordination and stabilization of dinitrogen by biomimetic iron complexes

Coordination of dinitrogen to Sellmann-type iron (II) complexes in a sulfur-dominated coordination sphere, which emulates the environment of iron centers in the FeMo-cofactor of nitrogenase, is analyzed with respect to spin states, spin barriers, and the effect of trans-ligands. Such detailed investigations became only recently feasible when the reliability of density functional methods, which are the only quantum chemical methods capable of describing large transition metal complexes, could significantly be improved for the calculation of energies for states of different spin. It is found that the actual binding energy of dinitrogen is of sufficient magnitude for a reasonably strong fixation of N₂ by Sellmann-type coordination compounds. However, potential fixation is determined by additional factors which reduce the binding energy. One factor is the change in spin state of the N₂-free metal fragment, which lowers the total energy and quenches the thermodynamic stabilization effect of the binding energy. In addition, the metal fragment rearranges and gains even more stabilization energy for the un-coordinated state. Apart from these thermodynamical effects, the existence of spin barriers, which must be overcome upon binding of dinitrogen, leads to kinetical effects, which cannot be neglected.     

Ring Enlargement of Three‐Membered Boron Heterocycles upon Reaction with Organic π Systems: Implications for the Trapping of Borylenes

New low‐energy pathways for the reaction between substituted boriranes and borirenes with unsaturated hydrocarbons (ethyne or ethene) were discovered using density functional and coupled cluster theory. The interaction between the π bond of the hydrocarbon and the empty p orbital of the boron center leads to ring expansion of the three‐membered to a five‐membered boron heterocycle. The reactions are strongly exothermic and have low or even no barriers. They involve intermediates with a pentacoordinate boron center with two hydrocarbon molecules coordinating to boron akin to metal‐olefin complexes. These borylene complexes are shallow minima on the potential energy surfaces. But significantly higher barriers for ring formation are computed for 1,5‐cyclooctadiene and dibenzocyclooctatetraene complexes of borylenes, making these complexes likely detectable under appropriate experimental conditions. Our computational findings have implications for the interpretation of trapping experiments of thermally generated small borylenes with excess of small π systems. Because of very low barriers for reactions of three‐membered boron heterocycles with π systems and the at least locally large excess of the latter under such conditions, formation of five‐membered boron heterocycles should be considered.     

Phosphinoborylenes as stable sources of fleeting borylenes

Base-stabilised borylenes that mimic the ability of transition metals to bind and activate inert substrates have attracted significant attention in recent years. However, such species are typically highly reactive and fleeting, and often cannot be isolated at ambient temperature. Herein, we describe a readily accessible trimethylphosphine-stabilised borylborylene which was found to possess a labile P–B bond that reversibly cleaves upon gentle heating. Exchange of the labile phosphine with other nucleophiles (CO, isocyanide, 4-dimethylaminopyridine) was investigated, and the binding strength of a range of potential borylene “ligands” has been evaluated computationally. The room-temperature-stable PMe₃-bound borylenes were subsequently applied to novel bond activations including [2 + 2] cycloaddition with carbodiimides and the reduction of dichalcogenides, revealing that PMe₃-stabilised borylenes can effectively behave as stable sources of the analogous fleeting dicoordinate species under mild conditions.

A room-temperature stable phosphinoborylene provides a source of a reactive two-coordinate borylene via dissociation of a labile phosphine upon gentle heating. Ligand exchange, the capture of unsaturated molecules, and oxidation have been explored.     

Predicting Small Molecule Activation including Catalytic Hydrogenation of Dinitrogen Promoted by a Dual Lewis Acid

For decades, N₂ activation and functionalization have required the use of transition metal complexes. Thus, it is one of the most challenging projects to activate the abundant dinitrogen through metal-free systems under mild conditions. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept study on the catalytic hydrogenation of dinitrogen (with activation energy as low as 15.3 kcal mol⁻¹) initiated by a dual Lewis acid (DLA) via density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, such a DLA could be also used to activate a series of small molecules including carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, N-ethylenemethylamine, and acetonitrile. It is found that aromaticity plays an important role in stabilizing intermediates and products. Our findings provide an alternative approach to N₂ activation and functionalization, highlighting a great potential of DLA for small molecule activation.     

Can a Wanzlick-like equilibrium exist between dicoordinate borylenes and diborenes?

Boron chemistry has experienced tremendous progress in the last few decades, resulting in the isolation of a variety of compounds with remarkable electronic structures and properties. Some examples are the singly Lewis-base-stabilised borylenes, wherein boron has a formal oxidation state of +I, and their dimers featuring a boron–boron double bond, namely diborenes. However, no evidence of a Wanzlick-type equilibrium between borylenes and diborenes, which would open a valuable route to the latter compounds, has been found. In this work, we combine DFT, coupled-cluster, multireference methods, and natural bond orbital/natural resonance theory analyses to investigate the electronic, structural, and kinetic factors controlling the reactivity of the transient CAAC-stabilised cyanoborylene, which spontaneously cyclotetramerises into a butterfly-type, twelve-membered (BCN)₄ ring, and the reasons why its dimerisation through the boron atoms is hampered. The computations are also extended to the NHC-stabilised borylene counterparts. We reveal that the borylene ground state multiplicity dictates the preference for self-stabilising cyclooligomerisation over boron–boron dimerisation. Our comparison between NHC- vs. CAAC-stabilised borylenes provides a convincing rationale for why the reduction of the former always gives diborenes while a range of other products is found for the latter. Our findings provide a theoretical background for the rational design of base-stabilised borylenes, which could pave the way for novel synthetic routes to diborenes or alternatively non-dimerising systems for small-molecule activation.

The ground-state multiplicity of dicoordinate borylenes, which dictates their reactivity, is tuned by the nature of the stabilising carbene ligand.     

Predicting Dinitrogen Coupling with a Series of Small Molecules Catalyzed by a Pincer Complex

Due to consumption of more than 2% of the world‘s annual energy supply by Haber–Bosch process and the strongest triple bond (N≡N) in nature, directly coupling N₂ with small molecules is particularly important and challenging, let alone in a catalytic fashion. Here we first demonstrate that a NNN-type pincer phosphorus complex could act as a catalyst to couple dinitrogen with a series of small molecules including carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, N-ethylidenemethylamine, and acetonitrile in the presence of diborane(4) under a mild condition by theoretical calculations. N₂ fixation proceeds via a stepwise mechanism involving initial N₂ activation by diborane(4), followed by intramolecular isomerization to a key intermediate (zwitterion). Such a zwitterion can be used to couple a series of small molecules with activation barriers of 23.5–25.2 kcal mol⁻¹. All these findings could be particularly useful for main group chemistry aimed at N₂ activation.     

Borylenes: An Emerging Class of Compounds

Free borylenes (R–B:) have only been spectroscopically characterized in the gas phase or in matrices at very low temperatures. However, in recent years, a few mono‐ and bis(Lewis base)‐stabilized borylenes have been isolated. In both of these compounds the boron atom is in the formal oxidation state +I which contrasts with classical organoboron derivatives wherein the element is in the +III oxidation state. Mono(Lewis base)‐stabilized borylenes are isoelectronic with singlet carbenes, and their reactivity mimics to some extent that of transition metals. They can activate small molecules, such as H₂, and coordinate an additional ligand; in other words, they are boron metallomimics. Bis(Lewis base)borylene adducts are isoelectronic with amines and phosphines. In contrast to boranes, which act as electron acceptors and thus Lewis acids, they are electron‐rich and act as ligands for transition metals.     

Transition‐Metal‐Like Behavior of Monovalent Boron Compounds: Reduction,Migration, and Complete Cleavage of CO at a Boron Center

The borylene–carbonyl moiety in [bis(silylene)B(CO)][WBr(CO)₅] shows diverse reactivity. Reduction, migration, and complete cleavage of CO have been observed at the boron center, leading to the formation of new types of borylenes. These reactions not only serve as new methods for the synthesis of various stable borylenes, but also demonstrate that main‐group‐element compounds can mimic the behavior of transition‐metal complexes.     

Transition‐Metal‐Like Behavior of Monovalent Boron Compounds: Reduction,Migration, and Complete Cleavage of CO at a Boron Center

The borylene–carbonyl moiety in [bis(silylene)B(CO)][WBr(CO)₅] shows diverse reactivity. Reduction, migration, and complete cleavage of CO have been observed at the boron center, leading to the formation of new types of borylenes. These reactions not only serve as new methods for the synthesis of various stable borylenes, but also demonstrate that main‐group‐element compounds can mimic the behavior of transition‐metal complexes.     

固氮酶活性中心FeMo-Cofactor对N2活化方式的探讨

结合实验和理论计算的结果, 讨论了固氮酶的活性中心铁钼辅基(FeMo-co-facto r) 对N₂ 的各种活化方式, 并在此基础上提出了一种新模型, 即N₂ 在FeMo2cofacto r 的内部以“4Fe 端基配位+2Fe 侧基配位”的方式被活化,N₂ 的三重键完全断裂, 断裂产生的两个含N 的碎片分别偏向两侧的“窗口”, 再在H 的进攻下被还原为NH₃, 并分别从两侧的“窗口”离去。     

Photochemically Induced Reductive Elimination as a Route to a Zirconocene Complex with a Strongly Activated N2 Ligand

The zirconocene dinitrogen complex [{(η⁵‐C₅Me₄H)₂Zr}₂(μ₂,η²,η²‐N₂)] was synthesized by photochemical reductive elimination from the corresponding zirconium bis(aryl) or aryl hydride complexes, providing a high‐yielding, alkali metal‐free route to strongly activated early‐metal N₂ complexes. Mechanistic studies support the intermediacy of zirconocene arene complexes that in the absence of sufficient dinitrogen promote C? H activation or undergo comproportion to formally Zr^III complexes. When N₂ is in excess arene displacement gives rise to strong dinitrogen activation.     

The Formation of Surface Lithium–Iron Ternary Hydride and its Function on Catalytic Ammonia Synthesis at Low Temperatures

Lithium hydride (LiH) has a strong effect on iron leading to an approximately 3 orders of magnitude increase in catalytic ammonia synthesis. The existence of lithium–iron ternary hydride species at the surface/interface of the catalyst were identified and characterized for the first time by gas-phase optical spectroscopy coupled with mass spectrometry and quantum chemical calculations. The ternary hydride species may serve as centers that readily activate and hydrogenate dinitrogen, forming Fe-(NH₂)-Li and LiNH₂ moieties—possibly through a redox reaction of dinitrogen and hydridic hydrogen (LiH) that is mediated by iron—showing distinct differences from ammonia formation mediated by conventional iron or ruthenium-based catalysts. Hydrogen-associated activation and conversion of dinitrogen are discussed.     

硼烯化合物的合成及应用

In most cases, borylenes containing boron (I) are unstable. In this article, we proceed from the electron configuration of borylene and review the common methods of stabilizing this category of compounds through a series of borylenes in literature. In addition, the article briefly introduces the metallic borylenes and non-metallic borylenes and their properties. Some of these properties have been applied in nitrogen fixation.     

The Formation of Surface Lithium–Iron Ternary Hydride and its Function on Catalytic Ammonia Synthesis at Low Temperatures

Lithium hydride (LiH) has a strong effect on iron leading to an approximately 3 orders of magnitude increase in catalytic ammonia synthesis. The existence of lithium–iron ternary hydride species at the surface/interface of the catalyst were identified and characterized for the first time by gas‐phase optical spectroscopy coupled with mass spectrometry and quantum chemical calculations. The ternary hydride species may serve as centers that readily activate and hydrogenate dinitrogen, forming Fe‐(NH₂)‐Li and LiNH₂ moieties—possibly through a redox reaction of dinitrogen and hydridic hydrogen (LiH) that is mediated by iron—showing distinct differences from ammonia formation mediated by conventional iron or ruthenium‐based catalysts. Hydrogen‐associated activation and conversion of dinitrogen are discussed.     

TpRu complexes as recoverable Lewis acid catalysts for enantioselective solvent-free cycloaddition reactions (Tp = hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate)

The enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure dinitrogen-bridged complexes [{TpRu(L)}₂(μ-N₂)][PF₆]₂ (L = R,R- or S,S-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphinoamino)cyclohexane (R,R- or S,S-dppach)) were prepared by reaction of the corresponding chloro-complexes [TpRuCl(L)] with NaPF₆ in dichloromethane under dinitrogen. The dinitrogen adducts react with neat methacrolein furnishing the labile complexes [TpRu(methacrolein)(L)][PF₆] (L = R,R- or S,S-dppach). Both the dinitrogen and methacrolein derivatives are catalysts for the solvent-free regio- and enantioselective Diels–Alder reactions between methacrolein and cyclopentadiene or pentamethylcyclopentadiene, with moderate enantiomeric excesses ranging from 36 to ca. 70%. The metal complex can be easily recovered and re-utilised for further reactions. The dinitrogen complexes also catalyse the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between methacrolein and benzylidenephenylamine N-oxide to yield 5-methyl-2-N-3-diphenyl-isoxazolidine-5-carbaldehyde with very high regioselectivity and 32% enantiomeric excess.     

Enzymatic and catalytic reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia: Density functional theory characterization of alternative molybdenum active sites

We used density functional calculations to model dinitrogen reduction by a FeMo cofactor containing a central nitrogen atom and by a Mo‐based catalyst. Plausible intermediates, reaction pathways, and relative energetics in the enzymatic and catalytic reduction of N₂ to ammonia at a single Mo center are explored. Calculations indicate that the binding of N₂ to the Mo atom and the subsequent multiple proton–electron transfer to dinitrogen and its protonated species involved in the conversion of N₂ are feasible energetically. In the reduction of N₂ the Mo atom experiences a cycled oxidation state from Mo(IV) to Mo(VI) by nitrogenase and from Mo(III) to Mo(VI) by the molybdenum catalyst, respectively, tuning the gradual reduction of N₂. Such a wide range of oxidation states exhibited by the Mo center is crucial for the gradual reduction process via successive proton–electron transfer. Present results suggest that the Mo atom in the N‐centered FeMo cofactor is a likely alternative active site for dinitrogen binding and reduction under mild conditions once there is an empty site available at the Mo site. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Dinitrogen Activation Upon Reduction of a Triiron(II) Complex

Reaction of a trinuclear iron(II) complex, Fe₃Br₃ L ( 1 ), with KC₈ under N₂ leads to dinitrogen activation products ( 2 ) from which Fe₃(NH)₃ L ( 2‐1 ; L is a cyclophane bridged by three β‐diketiminate arms) was characterized by X‐ray crystallography. ¹H NMR spectra of the protonolysis product of 2 synthesized under ¹⁴N₂ and ¹⁵N₂ confirm atmospheric N₂ reduction, and ammonia is detected by the indophenol assay (yield ～30 %). IR and Mössbauer spectroscopy, and elemental analysis on 2 and 2‐1 as well as the tri(amido)triiron(II) 3 and tri(methoxo)triiron 4 congeners support our assignment of the reduction product as containing protonated N‐atom bridges.     

Hydrogenated Bismuth Molybdate Nanoframe for Efficient Sunlight‐Driven Nitrogen Fixation from Air

Sunlight‐driven dinitrogen fixation can lead to a novel concept for the production of ammonia under mild conditions. However, the efficient artificial photosynthesis of ammonia from ordinary air (instead of high pure N₂) has never been implemented. Here, we report for the first time the intrinsic catalytic activity of Bi₂MoO₆ catalyst for direct ammonia synthesis under light irradiation. The edge‐exposed coordinatively unsaturated Mo atoms in an Mo?O coordination polyhedron can act as activation centers to achieve the chemisorption, activation, and photoreduction of dinitrogen efficiently. Using that insight as a starting point, through rational structure and defect engineering, the optimized Bi₂MoO₆ sunlight‐driven nitrogen fixation system, which simultaneously possesses robust nitrogen activation ability, excellent light‐harvesting performance, and efficient charge transmission was successfully constructed. As a surprising achievement, this photocatalytic system demonstrated for the first time ultra‐efficient (1.3 mmol g^?1 h^?1) and stable sunlight‐driven nitrogen fixation from air in the absence of any organic scavengers.     

Single-Atom Catalysis Using Chromium Embedded in Divacant Graphene for Conversion of Dinitrogen to Ammonia

Reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia under ambient conditions is a long-standing challenge. The few metal-based catalysts proposed have conspicuous disadvantages such as high cost, high energy consumption, and being hazardous to the environment. Single-atom catalysis has emerged as a new frontier in heterogeneous catalysis and metal atoms atomically dispersed on supports receive more and more attention owing to rapid advances in synthetic methodologies and computational modeling. Herein, we propose metal atoms embedded in divacant graphene as a catalyst for N₂ fixation based on density functional calculations. We systematically investigate the potential of using transition metal like Cr, Mn, Fe, Mo and Ru as catalysts and our study reveals that Cr embedded in graphene exhibit good catalytic activity for N₂ fixation. The synergy between the metal atoms and graphene surface provides a stable support to the metal center that has a high spin density to promote adsorption of N₂ and activation of its N≡N triple bond. Our study deciphers the mechanism of conversion of N₂ to ammonia following two possible reaction pathways, distal and enzymatic routes, via sequential protonation and reduction of activated N₂. The study provides a rational framework for conversion of dinitrogen to ammonia using single atom catalyst.