Catalytic Proton Coupled Electron Transfer from Metal Hydrides to Titanocene Amides, Hydrazides and Imides: Determination of Thermodynamic Parameters Relevant to Nitrogen Fixation

The hydrogenolysis of titanium–nitrogen bonds in a series of bis­(cyclopentadienyl) titanium amides, hydrazides and imides by proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) is described. Twelve different N–H bond dissociation free energies (BDFEs) among the various nitrogen-containing ligands were measured or calculated, and effects of metal oxidation state and N-ligand substituent were determined. Two metal hydride complexes, (η5-C5Me5)­(py-Ph)­Rh–H (py-Ph = 2-pyridylphenyl, [Rh]-H) and (η5-C5R5)­(CO)3Cr−H ([Cr]R-H, R= H, Me) were evaluated for formal H atom transfer reactivity and were selected due to their relatively weak M–H bond strengths yet ability to activate and cleave molecular hydrogen. Despite comparable M–H BDFEs, disparate reactivity between the two compounds was observed and was traced to the vastly different acidities of the M–H bonds and overall redox potentials of the molecules. With [Rh]–H, catalytic syntheses of ammonia, silylamine and N,N-dimethylhydrazine have been accomplished from the corresponding titanium­(IV) complex using H2 as the stoichiometric H atom source. The data presented in this study provides the thermochemical foundation for the synthesis of NH3 by proton coupled electron transfer at a well-defined transition metal center.