Hydrosilylation of a Molecular Molybdenum Nitride Provides Mechanistic Insights into Photodriven Ammonia Synthesis from N2 and H2
Addition of Ph2SiH2 to [(depe)2Mo(N)][BArF4] (depe = 1,2-bis(diethylphosphino)ethane, BArF4 = B(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)4) at 60 °C generated the silyl imido molybdenum hydride complex, trans- [(depe)2Mo(NSiHPh2)H][BArF4], a surrogate for a proposed intermediate complex in the photodriven hydrogenation to free ammonia. Irradiation of a THF solution of trans-[(depe)2Mo(NSiHPh2)H]- [BArF4] with blue light under H2 produced free amine along with [(depe)2MoH5][BArF4] in 76% yield. This transformation occurred in the absence of a precious metal photocatalyst, suggesting that it was needed only for the initial addition of H2 to the molybdenum nitride during the first N−H bond-forming step in the photodriven hydrogenation. Deuterium labeling and crossovermore »