Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Catalytic Reactions at Amine-Stabilized and Ligand-Free Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Titania During Hydrogenation of Alkenes and Aldehydes
Published on: June 24, 2022
N2 hydrogenation from activated end-on bis(indenyl) zirconium dinitrogen complexes
Doris Pun1, Christopher A Bradley, Emil Lobkovsky
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Abstract:
Sodium amalgam reduction of the bis(indenyl)zirconium dihalide complexes, (eta5-C9H5-1-iPr-3-Me)2ZrX2 (X = Cl, Br, I), yielded the corresponding end-on dinitrogen complexes, [(eta5-C9H5-1-iPr-3-Me)2Zr(NaX)]2(mu2, eta1, eta1-N2), with inclusion of 1 equiv of salt per zirconocene. The solid state structures of the chloro and iodo congeners establish short Zr N and elongated N N bonds, consistent with modest to strong activation of the coordinated dinitrogen molecule. Exposure of the N2 compounds to 1 atm of dihydrogen resulted in rapid N H bond formation to yield a hydrido zirconocene hydrazido compound concomitant with salt elimination. These studies establish a new structural type of zirconocene dinitrogen complex and demonstrate that side-on coordination of the N2 ligand in the ground state is not a prerequisite for dinitrogen hydrogenation.
Related Concept Videos
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 cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the surface of...
Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Mechanism
Diazonium Group Substitution: –OH and –H

