New Applications Of Rare Earth Metals: Direct Synthesis Of Nitrogen-containing Organic Compounds From Nitrogen

New Applications of Rare Earth Metals: Direct Synthesis of Nitrogen-containing Organic Compounds from Nitrogen
Currently, almost all artificially synthesized nitrogen-containing organic compounds require industrial synthesis of ammonia (NH3). The traditional industrial ammonia synthesis process (Haber Bosch Process) has extremely harsh conditions. It is estimated that annual energy consumption accounts for about 2% of global energy consumption, requiring about 25% of fossil resources and producing a large amount of greenhouse gases. Therefore, one of the important ways to solve the above problems is to directly, efficiently, and gently convert nitrogen into nitrogen-containing organic compounds without passing through NH3. However, there have been few relevant literature reports so far, and the catalytic reaction system has not yet been achieved (see Chinese review: Direct synthesis of nitrogen-containing organic compounds from nitrogen, Li Jiapeng, Yin Jianhao, Yu Chao, Zhang Wenxiong, Xi Zhenfeng, "Journal of Chemistry, 2017, 75733-743).
Recently, the Xi Zhenfeng/Zhang Wenxiong research group has achieved an efficient synthesis process of hydrazine derivatives directly from organic substrates such as nitrogen, MeOTf, and electrophilic reagents, promoted by rare earth metal scandium (Sc). They separated and characterized (N2) 2? -, (N2) 3- And (N2Me2) 2- Sc intermediate and found that CO can effectively insert (N2Me2) 2- Sc of Sc intermediate? In the N bond, efficient coupling of N2 and CO was achieved (Scandium Promoted Direct Conversion of Dinitrogen into Hydrazine Derivatives via N C Bond Formation.Ze Jie Lv, Zhe Huang, Wen Xiong Zhang, * and Zhenfeng Xi, * J.Am. Chem. Soc. 20191418773? 8777).
Rare earth metal scandium (Sc) directly converts nitrogen into nitrogen-containing organic compounds
This work achieved for the first time the direct synthesis of nitrogen-containing organic compounds from nitrogen promoted by rare earth metals. Rare earth metals are of special significance for the development of China, and this work demonstrates a new approach to the efficient utilization of rare earth metals. The lead author of the thesis is Lu Zejie, a doctoral student. This work has received strong support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Research Center for Molecular Sciences in Beijing, and the School of Chemistry at Peking University.