Ammonia Synthesis through Hydrolysis of a Trianionic Pincer Ligand‐Supported Molybdenum–Nitride Complex

AbstractReported is the hydrolysis of a homogeneous Mo‐nitride complex bearing a trianionic pincer‐type ligand to produce ammonia. Treating the anionic [(ONO)]Mo≡N(OtBu)]Ph3PCH3 with two equivalents of water produces ammonia and the dioxo complex [(ONO)]MoO2]Ph3PCH3. X‐Ray crystal structures of the starting nitrido complex and product dioxo complex are presented. Evidence for ammonia release comes from GC‐MS and deuterium‐labelling studies. The reaction is presented in the context of a two‐stage solar thermochemical dinitrogen fixation process as the solid‐state nitride hydrolysis step.