News & Events

Dinitrogen N2 Activation and Functionalization into N-Containing Organic Compounds

Date: 
Thursday, October 9, 2025 - 13:00 to 14:00
Speaker: 
Prof. Zhenfeng Xi
Affiliation: 
Professor, College of Chemistry, Peking University (PKU)
Event Category: 
Seminar - Seminar
Host: 
Dr. Laurel Schafer
Location: 
Chemistry D215

Abstract:

Nowadays almost all artificial synthetic nitrogen-containing organic compounds (N-C bonding) are prepared via ammonia (NH3, the Haber-Bosch product). The ultimate research goal of our group is to synthesize nitrogen-containing organic compounds efficiently and directly from N2 gas as the nitrogen source, bypassing the NH3-depended synthetic pathway, mainly via metal-mediated or catalyzed dinitrogen functionalization.1

At this presentation, I will briefly introduce two results recently realized in my research group. One result is about the transformation and mechanism on efficient first-step and second-step N2 electrophilic functionalization of LnCr-N2 metal dinitrogen complexes.2 The other result is on the synthesis of nitrogen-containing organic compounds via LiNCNLi formed from N2 gas and carbon by synergizing the heterogeneous synthetic approach with the homogeneous synthetic methodology.3

References:

1. Lv, Z.-J.; Wei, J.; Zhang, W.-X.; Chen, P.; Deng, D.; Shi, Z.-J.; Xi, Z. Natl. Sci. Rev. 2020, 7, 1564-1583.

2. (a) Wang, G.-X.; Wang, X.; Jiang, Y.; Chen, W.; Shan, C.; Zhang, P.; Wei, J.; Ye, S.; Xi, Z. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 9746-9754; (b) Wang, X.; Wu, Y.; Wang, Y.; Sun, R.; Wei, J.; Xi, Z. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, in press.

3. Wu, L.-J.; Wang, Q.; Guo, J.; Wei, J.; Chen, P.; Xi, Z. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202219298.