Triggering N2 uptake via redox-induced expulsion of coordinated NH3 and N2 silylation at trigonal bipyramidal iron

The biological reduction of N2 to give NH3 may occur by one of two predominant pathways in which nitrogenous NxHy intermediates, including hydrazine (N2H4), diazene (N2H2), nitride (N3−) and imide (NH2−), may be involved. To test the validity of hypotheses on iron's direct role in the stepwise reduction of N2, model systems for iron are needed. Such systems can test the chemical compatibility of iron with various proposed NxHy intermediates and the reactivity patterns of such species. Here we describe a trigonal bipyramidal Si(o-C6H4PR2)3Fe–L scaffold (R = Ph or i-Pr) in which the apical site is occupied by nitrogenous ligands such as N2, N2H4, NH3 and N2R. The system accommodates terminally bound N2 in the three formal oxidation states (iron(0), +1 and +2). N2 uptake is demonstrated by the displacement of its reduction partners NH3 and N2H4, and N2 functionalizaton is illustrated by electrophilic silylation. In nature, iron takes a direct role in converting nitrogen to ammonia through a variety of NxHy intermediates. A series of synthetic iron complexes that mimic these intermediates could lead to an increased understanding of the process and eventually to effective catalysts.