Iron–dinitrogen coordination chemistry: Dinitrogen activation and reactivity

Abstract

Understanding the coordination of dinitrogen to iron is important for understanding biological nitrogen fixation as well as for designing synthetic systems that are capable of reducing N 2 to NH 3 under mild conditions. This review discusses recent advances in iron–dinitrogen coordination complexes and describes the factors that contribute to the degree of activation of the coordinated N 2. The reactivity of the N 2 ligand is also reviewed, with an emphasis on protonation reactions that yield ammonia and/or hydrazine. Coordination complexes containing N 2 reduction intermediates such as diazene (N 2H 2), hydrazido (N 2H 2 2−), hydrazine (N 2H 4), nitride (N 3−), imide (NH 2−), and amide (NH 2 −) are also discussed in the context of the mechanism of N 2 reduction to NH 3 mediated by iron coordination complexes.