Buckminsterfullerenes: a non-metal system for nitrogen fixation.
In all nitrogen-fixation processes known so far--including the industrial Haber-Bosch process, biological fixation by nitrogenase enzymes and previously described homogeneous synthetic systems--the direct transformation of the stable, inert dinitrogen molecule (N2) into ammonia (NH3) relies on the powerful redox properties of metals. Here we show that nitrogen fixation can also be achieved by using a non-metallic buckminsterfullerene (C60) molecule, in the form of a water-soluble C60:gamma-cyclodextrin (1:2) complex, and light under nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. This metal-free system efficiently fixes nitrogen under mild conditions by making use of the redox properties of the fullerene derivative.
Nishibayashi
Yoshiaki
Y
Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Saito
Makoto
M
Uemura
Sakae
S
Takekuma
Shin-Ichi
S
Takekuma
Hideko
H
Yoshida
Zen-Ichi
Z
D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008027:Light; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000528:radiation effects; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000528:radiation effects; D047408:gamma-Cyclodextrins
D003505:Cyclodextrins; D037741:Fullerenes; D008670:Metals; D047408:gamma-Cyclodextrins; D000641:Ammonia; C023792:gamma-cyclodextrin; D009584:Nitrogen