Activation and functionalization of molecular nitrogen by metal complexes

Molecular nitrogen is intrinsically unreactive, so much so that it has confounded chemists for decades in attempts to functionalize this abundant diatomic molecule. While biological systems and industrial processes can fix nitrogen to form ammonia, the challenge is to discover a process that involves a homogeneous catalyst that can utilize N-2 as a feedstock to generate higher value organonitrogen materials. In this review, the activation of molecular nitrogen by transition metal complexes is reviewed with the view to present new kinds of transformations for coordinated dinitrogen. Moreover, some reaction types that are as yet unknown are outlined to try and stimulate further research in this area. (C) 2003 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.