The Weak and the Strong: From the Strong Triple Bond in Dinitrogen to the Weak Multiple Bonds in Azides and an Interstellar Diatomic Molecule

The purpose of our research is to design methods for making energy-carrying molecules with weak chemical bonds at the expense of thermodynamic products with stronger chemical bonds.

We will study bond-forming reactions of electrophilic osmium nitride complexes, [Os≡N], where the nitrogen atom carries a partial positive charge in spite of its high electronegativity.

This will enable fulfilment of two specific aims, namely objective 1) the conversion of atmospheric dinitrogen into an azide, and objective 2) the isolation of an elusive diatomic molecule such as PN.

The 4-year start-up project will become part of a 6-year tenure-track employment at Lund University where I will establish a research group (1 doctoral student, 1 postdoc, and me) specializing in synthetic organometallic chemistry.

In terms of objective 1) the conversion of atmospheric dinitrogen into an azide is scientifically appealing, because this type of reaction is thermodynamically uphill and (invariably) tends to proceed in the opposite direction. This could form the basis for new energy-storing technologies, therefore also benefitting society.

In terms of Objective 2) studies of PN are challenging because this diatomic molecule – in its free state – only is stable under high-vacuum conditions.

However, PN is relatively common in space, and it would therefore be enticing to study the reactivity and physical properties of this interstellar molecule in the controlled environment of a laboratory on Earth.