Reduction of n‐C₅H₁₁N₃ Catalyzed by [Mo₂Fe₆S₈(OMe)₃(SC₆H₄‐p‐n‐C₈H₁₇)₆]^3– in an Aqueous Micellar Solution

Abstract

Reduction of n‐C5H11N3 by Na2S2O4 was performed in the presence of (n‐Bu4N)3 [Mo2Fe6S8(OMe)3(SC6H4‐p‐n‐C8H17)6] ((n‐Bu4N)3 [Mo‐Fe]) as a catalyst in aqueous Triton X‐100 micellar solutions. The rate of the reduction is enhanced efficiently by the addition of methyl viologen (MV2+). The methyl viologen radical cation (MV+) produced by the reaction of MV2+ with Na2S2O4 undergoes a disproportionation reaction to afford MV2+ and MV° in the micellar solution. The resultant MV° formed in the micelle transfers two electrons to [Mo‐Fe]3− effectively to give [Mo‐Fe]5−, which reduces n‐C5H11N3 with two electrons to produce n‐C5H11NH2 and N2.