Catalytic dinitrogen reduction to hydrazine and ammonia using Cr(N)(diphosphine) complexes.

The synthesis, characterization of -[Cr(N)(depe)] (1) is described. 1 and -[Cr(N)(dmpe)] (2) catalyze the reduction of N to NH and NH in THF using SmI and HO or ethylene glycol as proton sources. 2 produces the highest total fixed N for a molecular Cr catalyst to date.