ABSTRACT The electrochemical reduction of HOC2H4N3 as a nitrogenase substrate with a (n-BU4N)3 [Mo2Fe6S8(SPh)9]-modified glassy carbon electrode ([Mo-Fe]/GCE) in water at -1.25 V vs. SCE affords not only HOC2H4NH2 and N2 but also NH3 as an eight electron reduction product with the turnover number about 12000 in 2 h. Similar reductions of n-C5H11N3 can be achieved chemically in an aqueous Triton X-100 micellar solution containing Na2S2O4 (reducing agent), methylviologen (electron mediator), and [MoFe3S4(SC6H4-p-n-C8H17)3(O2C6-Cl4) ((CH3)2CO)]2- (catalyst) to give NH3 as well as n-C5H11NH2 and N2. The [Mo-Fe]/GCE can successfully be used also for the catalytic reductions of Non‾ (n =2, 3). On the other hand, the controlled potential electrolysis of a CO2-saturated CH3CN solution containing [Fe4S4(SPh)4]2-, NO2‾, PhCOCH3, and molecular sieves 3A at -1.25 V vs. SCE produces PhCOCH2COO‾ (β-keto acid) and N2 with the mole ratio about 7:1. Analogous CO2 fixation coupled with NO2‾ reduction occurs also in the presence of CH3CO-CH3, PhC≡CH, and cyclohexanone as proton sources. Moreover, the CO2 fixation at the carbonyl carbon of RC(O)SEt (R = CH3, Et, Ph) can be catalyzed by [Mo2Fe6S8(SEt)9]3- under the electrolysis conditions at – 1.55 V vs. SCE to afford α -keto acids.
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