Abstract
Over a 100 years ago, Fritz Haber discovered that ammonia could be prepared from molecular nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen (H2). This discovery was in turn adapted for use in industry and at present the Haber-Bosch process produces over 100 million tons of NH3 annually. Ammonia from this process is used in numerous processes and is absolutely essential to the agriculture and pharmaceutical industry. Nevertheless, it is surprising that even after all of this time, no other catalytic process that uses molecular nitrogen as a feedstock has been discovered. This lecture will discuss current research efforts worldwide aimed at the discovery of homogeneous catalysts that can utilize molecular nitrogen to directly generate higher value amines and N-heterocycles more efficiently than the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. Fundamental aspects of N2 bonding, N2 coordination chemistry and reactivity patterns of coordinated dinitrogen will also be covered, particularly work from Prof Fryzuk’s research group. Of particular relevance are reactions that result in the formation of carbon-nitrogen bonds.