Simple, stable actinide aryloxide catalysts for the conversion of dinitrogen to ammonia or secondary silylamines

Chemists have spent more than a century trying to make catalysts that can convert atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia, or to directly to amines under mild conditions. A few d-block metal catalysts have been developed, but even binding of dinitrogen to an f-block metal cation is extremely rare. In contrast to exploiting the strongly reducing capacity of the U(III) ion to pre-bind and dinitrogen, simple, molecular Th(IV) and U(IV) complexes with added potassium reductant can catalyse the reduction and functionalisation of dinitrogen; structural control by the ligand framework enables the first catalytic conversion of dinitrogen into a secondary silylamine by any metal.