NITROGEN-FIXATION IN SOLUTION

X-ray and other recent data on the nitrogen fixing enzyme, nitrogenase, reveal important details of its structure and provide the opportunity to make plausible conclusions on the mechanism of its functioning, Comparisons with chemical model systems reducing N-2 to hydrazine and ammonia show close similarities to the enzyme systems, in addition to their own peculiarities, The structure of these N-2 complexes with transition metals is discussed in relation to the mechanism of dinitrogen reduction in the metal coordination sphere, This helps in understanding the requirements for a complex to be a catalyst for N-2 reduction in protic media under the action of mild reducing agents.