Theoretical characterization of stable eta1-N2O-, eta2-N2O-, eta1-N2-, and eta2-N2-bound species: intermediates in the addition reactions of nitrogen hydrides with the pentacyanonitrosylferrate(II) ion

Disproportionation of O-methylhydroxylamine catalyzed by aquapentacyanoferrate(II)

The aquapentacyanoferrate(II) ion, [Fe(II)(CN)(5)H(2)O](3-), catalyzes the disproportionation reaction of O-methylhydroxylamine, NH(2)OCH(3), with stoichiometry 3NH(2)OCH(3) → NH(3) + N(2) + 3CH(3)OH. Kinetic and spectroscopic evidence support an initial N coordination of NH(2)OCH(3) to [Fe(II)(CN)(5)H(2)O](3-) followed by a homolytic scission leading to radicals [Fe(II)(CN)(5)(•)NH(2)](3-) (a precursor of Fe(III) centers and bound NH(3)) and free methoxyl, CH(3)O(•), thus establishing a radical path leading to N-methoxyamino ((•)NHOCH(3)) and 1,2-dimethoxyhydrazine, (NHOCH(3))(2). The latter species is moderately stable and proposed to be the precursor of N(2) and most of the generated CH(3)OH. Intermediate [Fe(III)(CN)(5)L](2-) complexes (L = NH(3), H(2)O) form dinuclear cyano-bridged mixed-valent species, affording a catalytic substitution of the L ligands promoted by [Fe(II)(CN)(5)L](3-). Free or bound NH(2)OCH(3) may act as reductants of [Fe(III)(CN)(5)L](2-), thus regenerating active sites. At increasing concentrations of NH(2)OCH(3) a coordinated diazene species emerges, [Fe(II)(CN)(5)N(2)H(2)](3-), which is consumed by the oxidizing CH(3)O(•), giving N(2) and CH(3)OH. Another side reaction forms [Fe(II)(CN)(5)N(O)CH(3)](3-), an intermediate containing the nitrosomethane ligand, which is further oxidized to the nitroprusside ion, [Fe(II)(CN)(5)NO](2-). The latter is a final oxidation product with a significant conversion of the initial [Fe(II)(CN)(5)H(2)O](3-) complex. The side reaction partially blocks the Fe(II)-aqua active site, though complete inhibition is not achieved because the radical path evolves faster than the formation rates of the Fe(II)-NO(+) bonds.

Binding and activation of N2O at transition-metal centers: recent mechanistic insights

No laughing matter, nitrous oxide's role in stratospheric ozone depletion and as a greenhouse gas has stimulated great interest in developing and understanding its decomposition, particularly through the use of transition-metal promoters. Recent advances in our understanding of the reaction pathways for N(2)O reduction by metal ions in the gas phase and in heterogeneous, homogeneous, and biological catalytic systems have provided provocative ideas about the structure and properties of metal N(2)O adducts and derived intermediates. These ideas are likely to inform efforts to design more effective catalysts for N(2)O remediation.

Os(II)−Nitrosyl and Os(II)−Dinitrogen Complexes from Reactions between Os(VI)−Nitrido and Hydroxylamines and Methoxylamines

Reactions between the Os(VI)-nitrido salts (e.g., trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(N)]PF(6) (tpy = 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine), cis-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(N)]PF(6), and fac-[Os(VI)(tpm)(Cl)(2)(N)]PF(6) (tpm = tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane)) and the hydroxylamines (e.g., H(2)NOH and MeHNOH) and the methoxylamines (e.g., H(2)NOMe and MeHNOMe) in dry MeOH at room temperature give three different types of products. They are Os(II)-dinitrogen (e.g., trans-, cis-, or fac-[Os(II)-N(2)]), Os(II)-nitrosyl [Os(II)-NO](+) (e.g., trans- or cis-[Os(II)-NO](+)), Os(IV)-hydroxyhydrazido (e.g., cis-[Os(IV)-N(H)N(Me)(OH)](+)), and Os(IV)-methoxyhydrazido (e.g., trans-/cis-[Os(IV)-N(H)N(H)(OMe)](+), and trans-/cis-[Os(IV)-N(H)N(Me)(OMe)](+)) adducts. The products depend in a subtle way on the electron content of the starting nitrido complexes, the nature of the hydroxylamines, the nature of the methoxylamines, and the reaction conditions. Their appearance can be rationalized by invoking the formation of a series of related Os(IV) adducts which are stable or decompose to give the final products by two different pathways. The first involves internal 2-electron transfer and extrusion of H(2)O, MeOH, or MeOMe to give [Os(II)-N(2)]. The second which gives [Os(II)-NO](+) appears to involve seven-coordinate Os(IV) intermediates based on the results of an (15)N-labeling study.