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Electron - transfer in Nitrogen Fixation Pathways

Reference	BBS/E/J/41004056
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Christopher Pickett
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr David Hughes
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	182,122
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/2001
Duration	48 months

Abstract

Biological nitrogen fixation involves the integration of proton - and electron - transfer to effect the binding and conversion of molecular nitrogen to ammonia and parallel inputs are involved in the electrosynthesis of ammonia under ambient conditions mediated by a tungsten complex. Biological fixation intimately takes place at the FeMoco centre of nitrogenase (RO4026 ) and involves general and obligatory evolution of molecular hydrogen. We study elementary electron-transfer chemistry involving molecular nitrogen and protons at metal centres with the objective of defining intermediates and pathways which may relate to the interlocking hydrogen evolution and dinitrogen reduction cycles of the natural system (complements RO 4035 and 4039) and to the mechanism of the electrosynthetic reaction. We also study the formation and electron-transfer chemistry of intermediates with nitrogen - carbon bonds with the objective of defining new abiological fixation pathways to higher value organonitrogen compounds, including nitrogen heterocycles, amino acids, and nitriles. Key elements in the research are the utilisation of C-C bond forming reactions at carbons adjacent to ligated nitride and the development of enantioselective syntheses. We combine advanced electrochemical, spectroscopic and digital simulation techniques to elucidate the electron-transfer chemistry ; we isolate stable intermediates and products and use X-ray crystallography for structural characterisation.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biomolecular Sciences (BMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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