Nitrogen fixation, the six-electron/six-proton reduction of N 2 , to give NH 3 , is one of the most challenging and important chemical transformations. Notwithstanding the barriers associated with this reaction, significant progress has been made in developing molecular complexes that reduce N 2 into its bioavailable form, NH 3 . This progress is driven by the dual aims of better understanding biological nitrogenases and improving upon industrial nitrogen fixation. In this review, we highlight both mechanistic understanding of nitrogen fixation that has been developed, as well as advances in yields, efficiencies, and rates that make molecular alternatives to nitrogen fixation increasingly appealing. We begin with a historical discussion of N 2 functionalization chemistry that traverses a timeline of events leading up to the discovery of the first bona fide molecular catalyst system and follow with a comprehensive overview of d-block compounds that have been targeted as catalysts up to and including 2019. We end with a summary of lessons learned from this significant research effort and last offer a discussion of key remaining challenges in the field.

An effective method for transforming an amino-sugar into an N-substituted furan in an ionic liquid is reported. B(OH) 3 significantly improves the yield (60%, 3 min MW heating).

This tutorial review showcases recent (2015–2021) work describing ligand construction as it relates to the design of secondary coordination spheres (SCSs).

Herein, we establish the preparation, characterization, and reactivity of a new diphosphine ligand, 1,2‐bis(di(3‐dicyclohexylboraneyl)propylphosphino)ethane (P2BCy4), a scaffold that contains four pendant boranes. An entryway into the coordination chemistry of P2BCy4 is established by using nickel, providing the octaboraneyl complex [Ni(P2BCy4)2]—this species contains a boron‐rich secondary coordination sphere that reacts readily with Lewis bases. In the case of 4,4′‐bipyridine, an air‐sensitive coordination polymer is obtained. Characterization of this material by solid‐state NMR and EPR spectroscopy reveals the presence of a charge‐transfer polymer, which forms as a function of intramolecular Ni→4,4′‐bpy electron transfer (ET), providing an array of oxidized nickel sites and reduced 4,4′‐bpy radical anion sites. Notably, the related intermolecular reaction between the model fragments [Ni(dnppe)2] (dnppe=1,2‐bis(di‐n‐propylphosphino)ethane) and a bis(boraneyl)‐protected 4,4′‐bpy, provides no ET. Overall, the P2BCy4 fragment provides a unique opportunity for Lewis base activation, in one case allowing for the facile construction of monomers for incorporation into redox‐active macromolecules.

1,3-N,O-chelated complexes of Rh(I) and Ir(I) cooperatively and reversibly stabilized the B-H bond of HBCy2 to afford six-membered metallaheterocycles (M=Rh (7) or Ir (8)) having a δ-[M]⋅⋅⋅H-B agostic interaction. Treatment of these Shimoi-type borane adducts 7 or 8 with both an aldehyde and an alkene resulted in chemoselective aldehyde hydroboration and reformation of the 1,3-N,O-chelated starting material. The observed chemoselectivity is inverted from that of free HBCy2 , which is selective for alkene hydroboration.