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Nitrogen reduction by the Fe sites of synthetic [Mo3S4Fe] cubes.
- Source :
- Nature; Jul2022, Vol. 607 Issue 7917, p86-90, 5p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Nitrogen (N<subscript>2</subscript>) fixation by nature, which is a crucial process for the supply of bio-available forms of nitrogen, is performed by nitrogenase. This enzyme uses a unique transition-metal–sulfur–carbon cluster as its active-site co-factor ([(R-homocitrate)MoFe<subscript>7</subscript>S<subscript>9</subscript>C], FeMoco)1,2, and the sulfur-surrounded iron (Fe) atoms have been postulated to capture and reduce N<subscript>2</subscript> (refs. 3–6). Although there are a few examples of synthetic counterparts of the FeMoco, metal–sulfur cluster, which have shown binding of N<subscript>2</subscript> (refs. 7–9), the reduction of N<subscript>2</subscript> by any synthetic metal–sulfur cluster or by the extracted form of FeMoco10 has remained elusive, despite nearly 50 years of research. Here we show that the Fe atoms in our synthetic [Mo<subscript>3</subscript>S<subscript>4</subscript>Fe] cubes11,12 can capture a N<subscript>2</subscript> molecule and catalyse N<subscript>2</subscript> silylation to form N(SiMe<subscript>3</subscript>)<subscript>3</subscript> under treatment with excess sodium and trimethylsilyl chloride. These results exemplify the catalytic silylation of N<subscript>2</subscript> by a synthetic metal–sulfur cluster and demonstrate the N<subscript>2</subscript>-reduction capability of Fe atoms in a sulfur-rich environment, which is reminiscent of the ability of FeMoco to bind and activate N<subscript>2</subscript>.Iron atoms in a synthetic metal–sulfur cluster can capture nitrogen and catalyse its silylation, demonstrating successful nitrogen reduction by iron atoms in a sulfur-rich environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00280836
- Volume :
- 607
- Issue :
- 7917
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Nature
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 157850805
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04848-1