Despite advances in the development of molecular catalysts capable of reducing dinitrogen to ammonia using proton donors and chemical reductants, few molecular electrocatalysts have been discovered. This Perspective considers the prospects of electrocatalyst development based on a mechanism featuring the cleavage of N₂ into metal nitride complexes. By understanding the factors that control the reactivity of individual steps along the electrochemical N₂ cleavage path, opportunities for new advances are identified. Ligand design principles for facile electrochemical N₂ binding, formation of bridging N₂ complexes, thermal or photochemical N₂ cleavage, and conversion of a nitride ligand into ammonia are described, featuring recent advances and the authors’ collaborative work on rhenium complexes.

中文翻译：

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考虑通过双金属二氮裂解合成电催化氨

尽管在开发能够使用质子给体和化学还原剂将二氮还原为氨的分子催化剂方面取得了进展，但几乎没有发现分子电催化剂。该视角基于以N ₂裂解为金属氮化物络合物为特征的机理，研究了电催化剂的发展前景。通过了解控制沿电化学N ₂裂解路径的各个步骤的反应性的因素，确定了新进展的机会。简便的电化学N ₂结合，桥联N ₂络合物的形成，热或光化学N _2的配体设计原理 描述了裂解，以及将氮化物配体转化为氨，具有最近的进展以及作者在rh配合物方面的合作成果。