Water Complex of Imidogen

J Am Chem Soc. 2023 Jan 25;145(3):1982-1987. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c12808. Epub 2023 Jan 12.

Abstract

Imidogen (NH) is the simplest nitrogen hydride that plays an important role in combustion and interstellar chemistry, and its combination with H2O is the prototypical amidation reaction of O-H bonds involving a nitrene intermediate. Herein, we report the observation of the elusive water complex of NH, a prereaction complex associated with the amidation reaction in a solid N2 matrix at 10 K. The hydrogen-bonded structure of NH···OH2 (versus HN···HOH) is confirmed via IR spectroscopy with comprehensive isotope labeling (D, 18O, and 15N) and quantum chemical calculations at the UCCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ level of theory. In line with the observed absorption at 350 nm, irradiation of the complex at 365 nm leads to O-H bond insertion, yielding hydroxylamine NH2OH.