Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Stereoisomerism

Stereoisomerism

Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same authorSame Topic

Reduced salen in a monomeric Fe complex.

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)·2026

Same author

[Right-Sided Colon Cancer: Is Hepatic Flexure Location a Factor of Poor Oncologic Prognosis?]

Revista medica de Chile·2026

Same author

Ball Mill Beatdown: Mechanochemical Synthesis of TaON Nanocrystals.

Inorganic chemistry·2026

Same author

Hydrogen Isotope Exchange in Pyridine Catalyzed by an Iron(II) Imido Complex: Counterion-Directed Regioselectivity.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026

Same author

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Enhanced <sup>113</sup>Cd Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Reveals CdSe Nanocrystals with Triangular Two-Dimensional Projections are Terminated by {100} Facets.

The journal of physical chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces·2026

Same author

Alkali metal cation effects for rapid C-H activation by iron(0) complexes.

Chemical science·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Reliable Mechanochemistry: Protocols for Reproducible Outcomes of Neat and Liquid Assisted Ball-mill Grinding Experiments

Reliable Mechanochemistry: Protocols for Reproducible Outcomes of Neat and Liquid Assisted Ball-mill Grinding Experiments

Published on: January 23, 2018

Studies of low-coordinate iron dinitrogen complexes.

Jeremy M Smith¹, Azwana R Sadique, Thomas R Cundari

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14267, USA.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|January 19, 2006

Summary

This study investigates how iron complexes weaken the nitrogen-nitrogen bond in dinitrogen (N2). Findings reveal cooperative back-bonding and alkali metal reduction enhance N-N bond weakening, crucial for catalysis.

More Related Videos

Experimental Approaches for the Synthesis of Low-Valent Metal-Organic Frameworks from Multitopic Phosphine Linkers

Experimental Approaches for the Synthesis of Low-Valent Metal-Organic Frameworks from Multitopic Phosphine Linkers

Published on: May 12, 2023

Discovery and Synthesis Optimization of Isoreticular Al(III) Phosphonate-Based Metal-Organic Framework Compounds Using High-Throughput Methods

Discovery and Synthesis Optimization of Isoreticular Al(III) Phosphonate-Based Metal-Organic Framework Compounds Using High-Throughput Methods

Published on: October 6, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Reliable Mechanochemistry: Protocols for Reproducible Outcomes of Neat and Liquid Assisted Ball-mill Grinding Experiments

Reliable Mechanochemistry: Protocols for Reproducible Outcomes of Neat and Liquid Assisted Ball-mill Grinding Experiments

Published on: January 23, 2018

Experimental Approaches for the Synthesis of Low-Valent Metal-Organic Frameworks from Multitopic Phosphine Linkers

Experimental Approaches for the Synthesis of Low-Valent Metal-Organic Frameworks from Multitopic Phosphine Linkers

Published on: May 12, 2023

Discovery and Synthesis Optimization of Isoreticular Al(III) Phosphonate-Based Metal-Organic Framework Compounds Using High-Throughput Methods

Discovery and Synthesis Optimization of Isoreticular Al(III) Phosphonate-Based Metal-Organic Framework Compounds Using High-Throughput Methods

Published on: October 6, 2023

Area of Science:

Inorganic Chemistry
Organometallic Chemistry
Catalysis

Background:

The Haber process relies on iron catalysts for ammonia synthesis.
The FeMoco active site in nitrogenase involves iron-nitrogen interactions.
Understanding N2 activation by iron is key to improving industrial processes and biological nitrogen fixation.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the factors influencing nitrogen-nitrogen (NN) bond weakening in low-coordinate iron complexes.
To investigate the role of steric effects, oxidation state, alkali metals, and coordination number on NN bond activation.
To provide insights into the mechanism of N2 cleavage relevant to catalysis.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of diiron complexes featuring a bridging N2 ligand (FeNNFe core).
Characterization using X-ray crystallography and resonance Raman spectroscopy.
Computational analysis including density functional theory (DFT) and multireference calculations.

Main Results:

Observed NN bond weakening in low-coordinate iron complexes, evidenced by reduced N-N bond order.
Identified cooperative back-bonding into N2 pi orbitals as a key mechanism for bond weakening.
Demonstrated that increasing iron coordination number and alkali metal reduction further enhance NN bond weakening.

Conclusions:

Low-coordinate iron complexes effectively weaken the NN bond through electronic effects.
Alkali metal coordination and reduction play a significant cooperative role in N2 activation.
These findings offer fundamental insights into N2 activation relevant to industrial catalysts and biological systems.