Issue 10, 2022

Nitrogen fixation and transformation with main group elements

Abstract

Nitrogen fixation is essential for the maintenance of life and development of society, however, the large bond dissociation energy and nonpolarity of the triple bond constitute a considerable challenge. The transition metals, by virtue of their combination of empty and occupied d orbitals, are prevalent in the nitrogen fixation studies and are continuing to receive a significant focus. The main group metals have always been considered incapable in dinitrogen activation owing to the absence of energetically and symmetrically accessible orbitals. The past decades have witnessed significant breakthroughs in the dinitrogen activation with the main group elements and compounds via either matrix isolation, theoretical calculations or synthetic chemistry. The successful reactions of the low-valent species of the main group elements with inert dinitrogen have been reported via the π back-donation from either the d orbitals (Ca, Sr, Ba) or p orbitals (Be, B, C…). Herein, the significant achievements have been briefly summarized, along with predicting the future developments.

Graphical abstract: Nitrogen fixation and transformation with main group elements

Article information

Article type
Tutorial Review
Submitted
22 Feb 2022
First published
28 Apr 2022

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2022,51, 3846-3861

Nitrogen fixation and transformation with main group elements

T. Liu, D. Zhai, B. Guan and Z. Shi, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2022, 51, 3846 DOI: 10.1039/D2CS00041E

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