Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Rodriguez MM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3218428 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Rodriguez Meghan M MM Bill Eckhard E Brennessel William W WW Holland Patrick L PL
Science (New York, N.Y.) 20111101 6057
The most common catalyst in the Haber-Bosch process for the hydrogenation of dinitrogen (N(2)) to ammonia (NH(3)) is an iron surface promoted with potassium cations (K(+)), but soluble iron complexes have neither reduced the N-N bond of N(2) to nitride (N(3-)) nor produced large amounts of NH(3) from N(2). We report a molecular iron complex that reacts with N(2) and a potassium reductant to give a complex with two nitrides, which are bound to iron and potassium cations. The product has a Fe(3)N( ...[more]