Molybdenum-Catalyzed Ammonia Formation Using Simple Monodentate and Bidentate Phosphines as Auxiliary Ligands.

We have found molybdenum-catalyzed ammonia formation using simple and commercially available monodentate and bidentate phosphines as auxiliary ligands with a simple and convenient procedure. Molybdenum complexes generated in situ from [MoI3(THF)3] and the corresponding phosphines such as PMePh2 and 1,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane worked effectively toward ammonia formation.