Dinitrogen activation at chromium by photochemically induced Cr-C bond homolysis.

The synthesis of the organochromium(II) complexes [POCOP]Cr(R) (R = -Tol, Bn) is reported. Exposure of [POCOP]Cr(Bn) to visible light promoted homolytic Cr-C bond cleavage and formed {[POCOP]Cr}(η:η-N) a putative [POCOP]Cr(I) species.