title: Catalytic dinitrogen reduction at the molybdenum center promoted by a bulky tetradentate phosphine ligand.
abstract: Stoichiometric reduction of N2 at a Mo center stabilized by a bulky tetradentate phosphine ligand (PP3(Cy)) allowed isolation of Mo-imidoamine and Mo-imido complexes. Both complexes as well as the Mo(II) precursor are equally suitable catalysts for the synthesis of NTMS3 (TMS = trimethylsilyl) from N2, TMSCl, and electron sources. Mechanistic studies prove the involvement of a TMS radical at least in one of the catalytic steps.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée, Université Paul Sabatier, CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse (France).
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saffon-Merceron
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mézailles
keywords: Mo complexes; amine formation; dinitrogen conversion; dinitrogen reduction; silicon radicals