Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of Molybdenum-Dinitrogen Complexes Bearing Unsymmetric PNP-Type Pincer Ligands

Novel dinitrogen-bridged dimolybdenum complexes bearing unsymmetric PNP-type pincer ligands are prepared and characterized by X-ray analysis. A molybdenum-dinitrogen complex bearing 2-(di-1-adamantylphosphino)methyl-6-(di-tert-butylphosphino)methylpyridine has been found to work as an effective catalyst toward the formation of ammonia from molecular dinitrogen under ambient conditions.