Dr. Zhenfeng Xi presents the Organic Reactions Inc. Lecture

Dinitrogen N₂ Activation and Functionalization

For Nitrogen-Carbon Bond Formation

Zhenfeng Xi

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

Abstract:

Nowadays almost all artificially 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 method 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 from N₂ gas and carbon by synergizing the heterogeneous synthetic approach with the homogeneous synthetic methodology.³

References:

1. (a) Lv, Z.-J.; Wei, J.; Zhang, W.-X.; Chen, P.; Deng, D.; Shi, Z.-J.; Xi, Z. Natl. Sci. Rev. 2020, 7, 1564-1583; (b) Wang, G.-X.; Yin, Z.-B.; Wei, J.; Xi, Z. Acc. Chem. Res. 2023, 56, 3211-3222. and references therein.

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) Yin, Z.-B.; Wu, B.; Wang, G.-X.; Wei, J.; Xi, Z. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 7065-7070; (c) Yin, J.; Li, J.; Wang, G.-X.; Yin, Z.-B.; Zhang, W.-X.; Xi, Z. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 4241-4247.

3. (a) Shi, X.; Wang, Q.; Qin, C.; Wu, L.-J.; Chen, Y.; Wang, G.-X.; Cai, Y.; Gao, W.; He, T.; Wei, J.; Guo, J.; Chen, P.; Xi, Z. Natl. Sci. Rev. 2022, 9, nwac168; (b) Wu, L.-J.; Wang, Q.; Guo, J.; Wei, J.; Chen, P.; Xi, Z. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202219298.