Azo NN Bond Cleavage with a Redox‐Active Vanadium Compound Involving Metal–Ligand Cooperativity

Abstract

Coop mode: The reaction of azobenzene with a redox-active bis(imino)pyridine vanadium dinitrogen complex resulted in NN bond cleavage and formation of the bis(imido) derivative (see picture). Similar reactivity was observed with O2 and S8 to yield the analogous terminal bis(oxides) and bis(sulfides), respectively. Studies of the electronic structure of the vanadium products show that bond cleavage involves reducing equivalents from the metal and the ligands.