Computational Study on N-N Homolytic Bond Dissociation Enthalpies of Hydrazine Derivatives

Coordinatively Unsaturated Amidotitanocene Cations with Inverted σ and π Bond Strengths: Controlled Release of Aminyl Radicals and Hydrogenation/Dehydrogenation Catalysis

Cationic amidotitanocene complexes [Cp₂ Ti(NPhAr)][B(C₆ F₅ )₄ ] (Cp=η⁵ -C₅ H₅ ; Ar=phenyl (1 a), p-tolyl (1 b), p-anisyl (1 c)) were isolated. The bonding situation was studied by DFT (Density Functional Theory) using EDA-NOCV (Energy Decomposition Analysis with Natural Orbitals for Chemical Valence). The polar Ti-N bond in 1 a-c features an unusual inversion of σ and π bond strengths responsible for the balance between stability and reactivity in these coordinatively unsaturated species. In solution, 1 a-c undergo photolytic Ti-N cleavage to release Ti(III) species and aminyl radicals ⋅NPhAr. Reaction of 1 b with H₃ BNHMe₂ results in fast homolytic Ti-N cleavage to give [Cp₂ Ti(H₃ BNHMe₂ )][B(C₆ F₅ )₄ ] (3). 1 a-c are highly active precatalysts in olefin hydrogenation and silanes/amines cross-dehydrogenative coupling, whilst 3 efficiently catalyzes amine-borane dehydrogenation. The mechanism of olefin hydrogenation was studied by DFT and the cooperative H₂ activation key step was disclosed using the Activation Strain Model (ASM).

Atmospheric reaction of hydrazine plus hydroxyl radical

Understanding the mechanism of hydrazine oxidation reaction by OH radical along with the rate constants of all possible pathways leads to explain the fate of hydrazine in the atmosphere. In this article, the comprehensive mechanisms and kinetics of the hydrazine plus hydroxyl radical reaction have been investigated theoretically at different temperatures and pressures. To achieve the main goals, a series of high levels of quantum chemical calculations have been widely implemented in reliable channels of the H-abstraction, S_N2, and addition/elimination reactions. The energy profile of all pathways accompanied by the molecular properties of the involved stationary points has been characterized at the MP2, M06-2X, and CCSD(T)/CBS levels. To estimate accurate barrier energies of the H-abstraction channels, large numbers of the CCSD (T) calculations in conjunction with various augmented basis sets have been implemented. The direct dynamic calculations have been carried out using the validated M06-2X/maug-cc-pVTZ level, and also by the CCSD(T) (energies) + MP2 (partition functions) level. The pressure-dependent rate constants of the barrierless pathways have been investigated by the strong collision approach. Therefore, the main behaviors of the N₂H₄ + OH reaction have been explored according to the influences of temperature and pressure on the computed rate coefficients within the well-behaved theoretical frameworks of the TST, VTST, and RRKM theories. It has been found that the H-abstraction mechanism (to form N₂H₃) is dominant relative to the S_N2 reaction and OH-addition to the N center of N₂H₄ moiety (to form H₂NOH + NH₂). The computed high pressure limit rate constant of the main reaction pathway, k(298.15) = 7.31 × 10^–11 cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, has an excellent agreement with the experimental value (k (298.15) = (6.50 ± 1.3) × 10^–11 cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) recommended by Vaghjiani. Also, the atmospheric lifetime of hydrazine degradation by OH radicals has been demonstrated to be 32.80 to 1161.11 h at the altitudes of 0–50 km. Finally, the disagreement in the calculated rate constants between the previous theoretical study and experimental results has been rectified.

Activation of ammonia and hydrazine by electron rich Fe(ii) complexes supported by a dianionic pentadentate ligand platform through a common terminal Fe(iii) amido intermediate

We report the use of electron rich iron complexes supported by a dianionic diborate pentadentate ligand system, B₂Pz₄Py, for the coordination and activation of ammonia (NH₃) and hydrazine (NH₂NH₂). For ammonia, coordination to neutral (B₂Pz₄Py)Fe(ii) or cationic [(B₂Pz₄Py)Fe(iii)]⁺ platforms leads to well characterized ammine complexes from which hydrogen atoms or protons can be removed to generate, fleetingly, a proposed (B₂Pz₄Py)Fe(iii)–NH₂ complex (3_Ar-NH₂). DFT computations suggest a high degree of spin density on the amido ligand, giving it significant aminyl radical character. It rapidly traps the H atom abstracting agent 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenoxy radical (ArO˙) to form a C–N bond in a fully characterized product (2_Ar), or scavenges hydrogen atoms to return to the ammonia complex (B₂Pz₄Py)Fe(ii)–NH₃ (1_Ar-NH₃). Interestingly, when (B₂Pz₄Py)Fe(ii) is reacted with NH₂NH₂, a hydrazine bridged dimer, (B₂Pz₄Py)Fe(ii)–NH₂NH₂–Fe(ii)(B₂Pz₄Py) ((1_Ar)₂-NH₂NH₂), is observed at −78 °C and converts to a fully characterized bridging diazene complex, 4_Ar, along with ammonia adduct 1_Ar-NH₃ as it is allowed to warm to room temperature. Experimental and computational evidence is presented to suggest that (B₂Pz₄Py)Fe(ii) induces reductive cleavage of the N–N bond in hydrazine to produce the Fe(iii)–NH₂ complex 3_Ar-NH₂, which abstracts H˙ atoms from (1_Ar)₂-NH₂NH₂ to generate the observed products. All of these transformations are relevant to proposed steps in the ammonia oxidation reaction, an important process for the use of nitrogen-based fuels enabled by abundant first row transition metals.

Synopsis: a highly reactive Fe(iii)–NH₂ complex is generated via activation of ammonia or hydrazine in reactions of relevance to fundamental steps in ammonia oxidation processes mediated by an abundant, first row transition metal.