The activation and fixation of dinitrogen by iron phosphine complexes

Abstract

Dinitrogen gas is the source of all biologically and industrially fixed nitrogen, yet the activation of this highly unreactive molecule is a significant challenge in modern chemistry. The current industrial route to fixed nitrogen compounds is the Haber-Bosch process, a reaction which has remained largely unaltered since the early 20th century. The catalytic fixation of N2 by molecular Fe complexes, by contrast, is a young and rapidly developing field, yet thus far few complexes can effect this transformation. This thesis explores the reactivity of electron-rich Fe phosphine complexes as potential catalysts for this transformation.