Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Catalytic reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia at well-defined single metal sites
1Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. rrs@mit.edu
Abstract:
Dinitrogen (N2) is reduced to ammonia at room temperature and 1atm with molybdenum catalysts that contain tetradentate [HIPTN3N]3- triamidoamine ligands {[HIPTN3N]3-=[{3,5-(2,4,6-i-Pr3C6H2)2C6H3NCH2CH2}3N]3-, an example being [HIPTN3N]Mo(N2)} in heptane. Slow addition of the proton source ({2,6-lutidinium}{BAr'4}; Ar'=3,5-(CF3)2C6H3) and reductant (decamethyl chromocene) assure a high yield of ammonia (63-65% in four turnovers) versus dihydrogen formation. Numerous X-ray studies, along with isolation and characterization of seven intermediates in the proposed catalytic reaction (under noncatalytic conditions), suggest that N2 is being reduced at a sterically protected, single Mo centre that cycles between states Mo(III), Mo(IV), Mo(V) and Mo(VI).
More Related Videos
08:40Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
12:08Catalytic Reactions at Amine-Stabilized and Ligand-Free Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Titania During Hydrogenation of Alkenes and Aldehydes
Published on: June 24, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Catalysis
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Reduction of Alkynes to trans-Alkenes: Sodium in Liquid Ammonia
When dissolved in liquid ammonia, an alkali metal, such as sodium, dissociates into a...
Nitriles to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction
As shown below, the mechanism involves three steps. Firstly, the hydride ion acting as a nucleophile attacks the nitrile carbon to form an anion. In the second step, a second equivalent of the hydride ion attacks the anion to...
Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Oximes and Nitro Compounds
Though catalytic hydrogenation can reduce nitrobenzenes, the reduction is nonselective in the presence of other functional groups. For instance, if nitrobenzene contains an aldehyde group,...
Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Amides and Nitriles
Amides can be reduced to primary, secondary, and tertiary amines using catalytic hydrogenation, active metals like Fe,...