Dinitrogen Activation and Hydrogenation by C₅Me₄SiMe₃-Ligated Di- and Trinuclear Chromium Hydride Complexes

Activation of dinitrogen (N2) by well-defined metal hydrides is of much interest and importance, but studies in this area have remained limited to date. We report here N2 activation and hydrogenation by C5Me4SiMe3-ligated di- and trinuclear chromium polyhydride complexes. Hydrogenolysis of [Cp′Cr(μ-Me)2CrCp′] (Cp′ = C5Me4SiMe3) (1) with H2 in a dilute hexane solution under N2-free conditions affords the dichromium dihydride complex...