Dinitrogen fixation chemistry of a molybdenum trisanilide system

Dinitrogen cleavage by Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 (Ar = 3,5-C6H3Me2) proceeds through the intermediate ([mu]-N2)[Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3]2 before forming N=Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 as the product. Both the intermediate bridging N2 complex and the nitride product have been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The spectroscopic and structural features of this bridging N2 complex are discussed in comparison to its one- and two-electron oxidized congeners, [([mu]-N2)[Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3]2]n+, n = 1, 2. This series of three complexes share a common chromophore, the nature of which was identified with the aid of time-dependent density functional theory. A photochemical reaction of ([mu]-N2)[Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3]2 that forms both Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 and N=Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 is described. The dynamics of this photochemical reaction are explored by ultrafast transient absorbance spectroscopy. A synthetic scheme for nitrogen fixation in the form of organic nitriles is initiated from the product of dinitrogen cleavage, N=Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3. This synthetic scheme is a closed cycle that returns the molybdenum nitride starting material at the conclusion of the cycle. To achieve this synthetic goal, new methods were developed to form C-N bonds between organic electrophiles and the weakly nucleophilic terminal nitride. In a key reaction, Mo(IV) ketimide complexes, R'O(R)CNMo (N[t-Bu]Ar)3, were shown to react with either SnCl2 or ZnCl2 to afford the corresponding nitrile, RCN, and a ClMo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 in essentially quantitative yields.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemistry.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Curley, John Joseph

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Christopher C. Cummins.

• Chemistry.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/49549

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/49549