A comprehensive mechanistic study of N2 activation and splitting into terminal nitride ligands upon reduction of the rhenium dichloride complex [ReCl2(PNP)] is presented (PNP– = N(CH2CH2PtBu2)2–). Low-temperature studies using chemical reductants enabled full characterization of the N2-bridged intermediate [{(PNP)ClRe}2(N2)] and kinetic analysis of the N–N bond scission process. Controlled potential electrolysis at room temperature also resulted in formation of the nitride product [Re(N)Cl(PNP)]. This first example of molecular electrochemical N2 splitting into nitride complexes enabled the use of cyclic voltammetry (CV) methods to establish the mechanism of reductive N2 activation to form the N2-bridged intermediate. CV data was acquired under Ar and N2, and with varying chloride concentration, rhenium concentration, and N2 pressure. A series of kinetic models was vetted against the CV data using digital simulations, leading to the assignment of an ECCEC mechanism (where “E” is an electrochemical step and “C” is a chemical step) for N2 activation that proceeds via initial reduction to ReII, N2 binding, chloride dissociation, and further reduction to ReI before formation of the N2-bridged, dinuclear intermediate by comproportionation with the ReIII precursor. Experimental kinetic data for all individual steps could be obtained. The mechanism is supported by density functional theory computations, which provide further insight into the electronic structure requirements for N2 splitting in the tetragonal frameworks enforced by rigid pincer ligands.

Thermal nitrogen fixation relies on strong reductants to overcome the extraordinarily large N À Nb ond energy. Photochemical strategies that drive N 2 fixation are scarcely developed. Here,t he synthesis of ad inuclear N 2 -bridged complex is presented upon reduction of arhenium(III) pincer platform. Photochemical splitting into terminal nitride complexes is triggered by visible light. Clean nitrogen transfer with benzoyl chloride to free benzamide and benzonitrile is enabled by cooperative 2H + /2 e À transfer of the pincer ligand. Athreestep cycle is demonstrated for N 2 to nitrile fixation that relies on electrochemical reduction, photochemical N 2 -splitting and thermal nitrogen transfer. Figure 3. Left:CVof7 in presence of 0-15 equiv.b enzoic acid.Right: CV of 7 with 10 equiv 2,6-dichlorophenol under N 2 before CPE (orange), after 8hCPE at À1.65 V( pink) and after subsequent 5h CPE at À1.85 V(blue).Scheme 3. Optimized, three-steps ynthetic cycle. Angewandte ChemieCommunications 833

The splitting of N2 into well‐defined terminal nitride complexes is a key reaction for nitrogen fixation at ambient conditions. In continuation of our previous work on rhenium pincer mediated N2 splitting, nitrogen activation and cleavage upon (electro)chemical reduction of [ReCl2(L2)] {L2 = N(CHCHPtBu2)2–} is reported. The electrochemical characterization of [ReCl2(L2)] and comparison with our previously reported platform [ReCl2(L1)] {L1 = N(CH2CH2PtBu2)2–} provides mechanistic insight to rationalize the dependence of nitride yield on the reductant. Furthermore, the reactivity of N2 derived nitride complex [Re(N)Cl(L2)] with electrophiles is presented.

Low-valent osmium nitrides are discussed as intermediates in nitrogen fixation schemes. However, rational synthetic routes that lead to isolable examples are currently unknown. Here, the synthesis of the square-planar osmium(IV) nitride [OsN(PNP)] (PNP=N(CH2 CH2 P(tBu)2 )2 ) is reported upon reversible deprotonation of osmium(VI) hydride [Os(N)H(PNP)](+) . The Os(IV) complex shows ambiphilic nitride reactivity with SiMe3 Br and PMe3 , respectively. Importantly, the hydrogenolysis with H2 gives ammonia and the polyhydride complex [OsH4 (HPNP)] in 80 % yield. Hence, our results directly demonstrate the role of low-valent osmium nitrides and of heterolytic H2 activation for ammonia synthesis with H2 under basic conditions.

The rhenium mediated synthesis of benzonitrile is reported with direct use of N 2 as a nitrogen source. The reaction affords benzonitrile in about 30 % overall yield upon N 2 splitting and benzylation of resulting terminal nitride. Subsequent oxidation of an intermediate Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 2018, 644, 916-919