One metal is enough: a nickel complex reduces nitrate anions to nitrogen gas.

ABSTRACT: A stepwise reduction sequence from nitrate to dinitrogen gas at a single nickel center was discovered. A PNP nickel scaffold (PNP^- = N[2-P ⁱ Pr₂-4-Me-C₆H₃]₂) emerged as a universal platform for the deoxygenation of NO _x substrates. In these reactions carbon monoxide acts as the oxygen acceptor and forms CO₂ to provide the necessary chemical driving force. Whereas the first two oxygens are removed from the Ni-nitrate and Ni-nitrite complexes with CO, the deoxygenation of NO requires a disproportionation reaction with another NO molecule to form NO₂ and N₂O. The final deoxygenation of nitrous oxide is accomplished by the Ni-NO complex and generates N₂ and Ni-

SUBMITTER: Gwak J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6510316 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature