Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025
07:36
Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
8.1K
B-B multiple bond-mediated dinitrogen cleavage induced by carbon monoxide.
Chunwen Pan1, Jin Hu1, Liyan Cai1
1School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China. xfwang@tongji.edu.cn.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|June 18, 2025
Summary
Researchers cleaved the nitrogen (N2) triple bond using a novel NNBBCO complex. This reaction, occurring in a low-temperature matrix, forms a BNBNCO complex, confirmed by spectroscopy and calculations.
Area of Science:
- Inorganic chemistry
- Materials science
Background:
- Nitrogen fixation remains a significant challenge in chemistry.
- Cleaving the strong N2 triple bond requires harsh conditions or complex catalysts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a new pathway for N2 triple bond cleavage.
- To explore the mechanism of NNBBCO rearrangement for N2 activation.
Main Methods:
- Low-temperature nitrogen matrix isolation.
- Infrared (IR) spectroscopy.
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations.
Main Results:
- The NNBBCO complex rearranges via an (η2-N2)BBCO intermediate.
- A BNBNCO complex is successfully formed and identified.
- Theoretical calculations elucidated the role of CO's inductive effect and B-B π-backdonation.
Conclusions:
- A novel, low-temperature route for N2 triple bond cleavage has been demonstrated.
- The mechanism involves transition metal-like π-backdonation from B-B bonds to N2.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:46Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures
51.4K
Compared to ionic bonds, which results from the transfer of electrons between metallic and nonmetallic atoms, covalent bonds result from the mutual attraction of atoms for a “shared” pair of electrons.
51.4K
01:08Covalent Bonds
9.1K
Overview
When two atoms share electrons to complete their valence shells, they create a covalent bond. An atom's electronegativity—the force with which shared electrons are pulled towards an atom—determines how the electrons are shared. Molecules formed with covalent bonds can be either polar or nonpolar. Atoms with similar electronegativities form nonpolar covalent bonds; the electrons are shared equally. Atoms with different electronegativities share electrons unequally,...
When two atoms share electrons to complete their valence shells, they create a covalent bond. An atom's electronegativity—the force with which shared electrons are pulled towards an atom—determines how the electrons are shared. Molecules formed with covalent bonds can be either polar or nonpolar. Atoms with similar electronegativities form nonpolar covalent bonds; the electrons are shared equally. Atoms with different electronegativities share electrons unequally,...
9.1K
00:54Radical Formation: Homolysis
3.7K
A bond is formed between two atoms by sharing two electrons. When this bond is broken by supplying sufficient energy, either two electrons can be taken up by one atom forming ions by the cleavage called heterolysis, or the two electrons are shared by two atoms, with one each creating radicals by the cleavage called homolysis.
3.7K
01:27¹H NMR: Long-Range Coupling
2.0K
The coupling interactions of nuclei across four or more bonds are usually weak, with J values less than 1 Hz. While these are usually not observed in spectra, the presence of multiple bonds along the coupling pathway can result in observable long-range coupling.
In alkenes, spin information is communicated via σ–π overlap, as seen in allylic (four-bond) and homoallylic (five-bond) couplings. These coupling interactions are stronger when the σ bond is parallel to the alkene...
In alkenes, spin information is communicated via σ–π overlap, as seen in allylic (four-bond) and homoallylic (five-bond) couplings. These coupling interactions are stronger when the σ bond is parallel to the alkene...
2.0K
01:04¹³C NMR: ¹H–¹³C Decoupling
1.2K
The probability of having two carbon-13 atoms next to each other is negligible because of the low natural abundance of carbon-13. Consequently, peak splitting due to carbon-carbon spin-spin coupling is not observed in spectra. However, protons up to three sigma bonds away split the carbon signal according to the n+1 rule, resulting in complicated spectra.
A broadband decoupling technique is used to simplify these complex, sometimes overlapping, signals. Broadband decoupling relies on a...
A broadband decoupling technique is used to simplify these complex, sometimes overlapping, signals. Broadband decoupling relies on a...
1.2K
02:24Polar Covalent Bonds
23.9K
Covalent bonds are formed between two atoms when both have similar tendencies to attract electrons to themselves (i.e., when both atoms have identical or fairly similar ionization energies and electron affinities). Nonmetal atoms frequently form covalent bonds with other nonmetal atoms. For example, the hydrogen molecule, H2, contains a covalent bond between its two hydrogen atoms. When two separate hydrogen atoms with a particular potential energy approach each other, their valence orbitals...
23.9K