2-PATH REDUCTION OF MOLECULAR NITROGEN BY TRANSITION-METAL HYDROXIDES

The kinetics of tile reduction of N-2 to N2H4 and NH3 by Ti-III-Mo-III hydroxide was studied at pH 11 and 303-333 K, and the activation ener gies for these reactions and also for tile reaction N2H4-->2 NH3 were determined (29, 70, and 25 kJ mol(-1), respectively). It was concluded that similar to 90 % of ammonia was formed by tile direct reduction o f N-2 without intermediate formation of hydrazine. A mechanism of this reaction is suggested, which includes the proton insertion into the N -N bond favored by all enhanced electron density at the nitrogen atoms , according to the data of tile quantum-mechanical calculation.