Dinitrogen activation and transformation by multimetallic polyhydride complexes

Abstract

This review describes recent progress in N2 activation and transformation by molecular multimetallic polyhydride complexes. The hydride ligands can serve as electron and proton sources, being capable of N2 cleavage and hydrogenation with no need for additional special reductants or proton sources. The activated nitrogen species in a multimetallic framework can react with various electrophiles, leading to the N–X (X = C, Si, B, Al) bond formations. In these transformations, multiple metal hydrides show unique synergistic effects, and the activity and selectivity may be tuned by altering the metal/ligand combination. These unique features may expect an exciting and rich future in N2 activation and transformation by multimetallic polyhydride complexes.