Nitrogen fixation

The cyclic voltammetry of Cp2TiCl2 was studied in both MeOH and THF, at either glassy carbon or platinum electrodes. The effect of catechol added, as a complexation agent, on the shape of the voltammograms is also described. Controlled potential electrolysis (CPE) was employed to reduce CP2TiCl2 under an N2 atmosphere in the presence of catechol. Ammonia was formed in low chemical yields (up to 0.11%), but selectively. The reduction was also investigated in the presence of a base (MeONa) and divalent cation (Mg2+). The ammonia yield increased to 0.65% and 1.45%, respectively. Other titanium compounds ((acac)2TiCl2, (i-PrO)4Ti, TiCl4, TiCl3) were reduced under similar conditions and found to be less efficient for N2 reduction than Cp2TiCl2.