
Dalton Transactions, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown
Published: Jan. 1, 2025
The activation of dinitrogen (N2) is a crucial step in synthesizing nitrogen-based compounds and remains significant challenge due to its strong triple bond. Currently, industrial N2 conversion relies on the Haber-Bosch process, highly energy-intensive method that utilizes transition metal-based catalysts. Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have emerged as promising alternative for without need metals. In this work, we employ density functional theory (DFT) investigate by metal-free acids (LAs) bases (LBs). Our study demonstrates LAs play role capturing determining thermodynamics activation, while LBs complementary reducing bond order molecule, thereby promoting activation. efficiency capture directly linked electroaccepting characteristics LAs. A principal component analysis (PCA) reveals key factors influencing power are degree pyramidalization orbital occupation at acidic site, well local electrophilicity index. LA-N2 interaction found be electrostatic with partially covalent character. Among 21 analyzed, triptycene-based systems exhibit highest stability forming complexes, highlighting their potential effective N2-capturing agents. However, largely intact, necessitating involvement LA-N2-LB complexes full "push-pull" mechanism. Six analyzed most Bonding indicates LB-N2 can regarded bond, which may explain main LB reduction order. Furthermore, significantly enhanced increasing nucleophilicity LB. all LA-LB pair combinations, only three defining frustrated (FLPs), moderate energies substantial distances. findings suggest FLPs composed tris-tert-butylphosphine represent candidates
Language: Английский