Dinitrogen N2 Activation and Transformation into N-Containing Organic Compounds

Zhenfeng Xi
College of Chemistry, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.

Abstract:
Nowadays almost all artificial synthetic nitrogen-containing organic compounds (N-C bonding) are prepared via ammonia (NH₃, the Haber-Bosch product). The ultimate research goal of our group is to synthesize nitrogen-containing organic compounds efficiently and directly from N₂ gas as the nitrogen source, bypassing the NH₃-depended synthetic pathway, mainly via metal-mediated or catalyzed dinitrogen functionalization.¹




At this presentation, I will briefly introduce two results recently realized in my research group. One result is about the transformation and mechanism on efficient first-step and second-step N₂ electrophilic functionalization of L_nCr-N₂ metal dinitrogen complexes.² The other result is on the synthesis of nitrogen-containing organic compounds via LiNCNLi formed from N₂ gas and carbon by synergizing the heterogeneous synthetic approach with the homogeneous synthetic methodology.³

References:
1. Lv, Z.-J.; Wei, J.; Zhang, W.-X.; Chen, P.; Deng, D.; Shi, Z.-J.; Xi, Z. Natl. Sci. Rev. 2020, 7, 1564-1583.
2. (a) Wang, G.-X.; Wang, X.; Jiang, Y.; Chen, W.; Shan, C.; Zhang, P.; Wei, J.; Ye, S.; Xi, Z. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 9746-9754; (b) Wang, X.; Wu, Y.; Wang, Y.; Sun, R.; Wei, J.; Xi, Z. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 35413.
3. Wu, L.-J.; Wang, Q.; Guo, J.; Wei, J.; Chen, P.; Xi, Z. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202219298.