Dihydrogen catalysis: a degradation mechanism for N2-fixation intermediates

Molecular hydrogen plays multiple roles in activation of nitrogen. Among others, it inhibits the overall process of N(2)-reduction catalyzed by nitrogenase enzyme. The H(2)-assisted dehydrogenation and the H-atom transfer reactions (called dihydrogen catalysis, DHC) are suggested as possible mechanisms for the degradation and removal of potential intermediates formed during the reduction of nitrogen. Several iron-organic model reactions associated with the core stereospecific reaction (cis-N(2)H(2) + H(2) → N(2) + H(2) + H(2)) are examined using a comprehensive density functional theory and ab initio analysis of the corresponding potential energy surfaces. A variety of energetically feasible decomposition pathways are identified for the DHC-oxidation of iron-bound [N(x)H(y)]-species. A liberated diazene intermediate (HN═NH) is suggested to interact in situ with two proximal hydridic H-atoms of an activated (hydrided) Fe-catalyst to produce N(2) and H(2) with a low or even no activation barrier. The majority of identified pathways are shown to be highly sensitive to the electronic environment and spin configuration of metallocomplexes. The H(2)-assisted transport of a single H-atom from a bound [N(x)H(y)] moiety to either the proximal or distal (Fe, S or N) active centers of a catalyst provides an alternative degradation (interconversion) mechanism for the relevant intermediates. The two types of molecular hydrogen-assisted reactions highlighted above, namely, the H(2)-assisted dehydrogenation and the transport of H-atoms, suggest theoretical interpretations for the observed H(2)-inhibition of N(2) activation and HD formation (in the presence of D(2)). The DHC reactions of various [N(x)H(y)] moieties are expected to play significant roles in the industrial high-pressure hydrodenitrification and other catalytic processes involving the metabolism of molecular hydrogen.