Ammonia formation by a thiolate-bridged diiron amide complex as a nitrogenase mimic

Nat Chem. 2013 Apr;5(4):320-6. doi: 10.1038/nchem.1594. Epub 2013 Mar 17.

Abstract

Although nitrogenase enzymes routinely convert molecular nitrogen into ammonia under ambient temperature and pressure, this reaction is currently carried out industrially using the Haber-Bosch process, which requires extreme temperatures and pressures to activate dinitrogen. Biological fixation occurs through dinitrogen and reduced NxHy species at multi-iron centres of compounds bearing sulfur ligands, but it is difficult to elucidate the mechanistic details and to obtain stable model intermediate complexes for further investigation. Metal-based synthetic models have been applied to reveal partial details, although most models involve a mononuclear system. Here, we report a diiron complex bridged by a bidentate thiolate ligand that can accommodate HN=NH. Following reductions and protonations, HN=NH is converted to NH3 through pivotal intermediate complexes bridged by N2H3(-) and NH2(-) species. Notably, the final ammonia release was effected with water as the proton source. Density functional theory calculations were carried out, and a pathway of biological nitrogen fixation is proposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry*
  • Ammonia* / chemical synthesis
  • Ammonia* / chemistry
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / chemistry
  • Iron Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Iron Compounds / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitrogen Fixation
  • Nitrogenase / chemistry*
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Amides
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds
  • Iron Compounds
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Ammonia
  • Nitrogenase

Associated data

  • PubChem-Substance/160843305
  • PubChem-Substance/160843306
  • PubChem-Substance/160843307
  • PubChem-Substance/160843308
  • PubChem-Substance/160843309
  • PubChem-Substance/160843310
  • PubChem-Substance/160843311
  • PubChem-Substance/160843312
  • PubChem-Substance/160843313
  • PubChem-Substance/160843314
  • PubChem-Substance/160843315