Computational Investigations of the Reactivity of Metalloporphyrins for Ammonia Oxidation

Selective Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Ammonia by Ru-dpp Complexes Containing Aromatic Nitrogen Donor as Axial Ligand

Inspired by the rapid growth of Ru-based complexes as molecular ammonia oxidation catalysts, we propose novel Ru-dpp complexes bearing a nitrogen donor as the axial ligand into the ammonia oxidation catalysts family. Herein, a series of Ru-dpp complexes [Ru(K3-N,N',N″-dpp)(bpy)(L)]·PF6 (where Hdpp = 2-[5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]pyridine; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; L = pyridine (Ru-py); 4-methylpyridine (Ru-pic); pyrimidine (Ru-pmd); isoquinoline (Ru-isoq)) containing aromatic nitrogen donor axial ligand are synthesized and fully characterized by NMR, IR, and ESI-MS. The structural analysis displays that dpp- as a pincer ligand coordinates to ruthenium, and nitrogen donor L binds to ruthenium at an axial ligand. The reaction of Ru-L with ammonia generates ammonia-ligated Ru-L-NH3 complexes, which are monitored by NMR and UV-vis spectra. The electrochemical properties are studied by cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory calculation. These titled complexes have good electrocatalytic performances for selective oxidation of ammonia into hydrazine at 0.6 V versus Cp2Fe+/0 onset potential. The turnover frequency of N2H4 formation is 326.4-393.4 h-1, and the faraday efficiency of generating hydrazine exceeds 97%. The N-N formation mechanism via bimolecular coupling of ruthenium amide/imide is proposed. The aminyl character of ruthenium amide intermediate is confirmed by EPR spectra.

Oxidation of Ammonia Catalyzed by a Molecular Iron Complex: Translating Chemical Catalysis to Mediated Electrocatalysis

Ammonia is a promising candidate in the quest for sustainable, clean energy. With its capacity to serve as an energy carrier, the oxidation of ammonia opens avenues for carbon-neutral approaches to address worldwide growing energy needs. We report the catalytic chemical oxidation of ammonia by an Earth-abundant transition metal complex, trans-[LFeII(MeCN)2][PF6]2, where L is a macrocyclic ligand bearing four N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) donors. Using triarylaminium radical cations in MeCN, up to 182 turnovers of N2 per Fe were obtained from chemical catalysis with an extremely low loading of the Fe catalyst (0.043 mM, 0.004 mol % catalyst). This chemical catalysis was successfully transitioned to mediated electrocatalysis for the oxidation of ammonia. Molecular electrocatalysis by the Fe catalyst and the mediator (p-MeOC6H4)3N exhibited a catalytic half-wave potential (Ecat/2) of 0.18 V vs [Cp2Fe]+/0 in MeCN, and achieved 9.3 turnovers of N2 at an applied potential of 0.20 V vs [Cp2Fe]+/0 at -20 °C in controlled-potential electrolysis, with a Faradaic efficiency of 75 %. Based on computational results, the catalyst undergoes sequential oxidation and deprotonation steps to form [LFeIV(NH2)2]2+, and thereafter bimetallic coupling to form an N-N bond.

Weakening the N-H Bonds of NH3 Ligands: Triple Hydrogen-Atom Abstraction to Form a Chromium(V) Nitride

Weakening and cleaving N-H bonds is crucial for improving molecular ammonia (NH₃) oxidation catalysts. We report the synthesis and H-atom-abstraction reaction of bis(ammonia)chromium porphyrin complexes Cr(TPP)(NH₃)₂ and Cr(TMP)(NH₃)₂ (TPP = 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-meso-porphyrin and TMP = 5,10,15,20-tetramesityl-meso-porphyrin) using bulky aryloxyl radicals. The triple H-atom-abstraction reaction results in the formation of Cr^V(por)(≡N), with the nitride derived from NH₃, as indicated by UV-vis and IR and single-crystal structural determination of Cr(TPP)(≡N). Subsequent oxidation of this chromium(V) nitrido complex results in the formation of Cr^III(por), with scission of the Cr≡N bond. Computational analysis illustrates the progression from Cr^II to Cr^V and evaluates the energetics of abstracting H atoms from Cr^II-NH₃ to generate Cr^V≡N. The formation and isolation of Cr^V(por)(≡N) illustrates the stability of these species and the need to chemically activate the nitride ligand for atom transfer or N-N coupling reactivity.