Synthesis Using Group 15 Elements

化学合成（SYN）项目的这一奖项支持麻省理工学院克里斯托弗·c·康明斯教授对含有15族元素的化合物的化学基础研究，重点是氮、磷和砷。将寻求将大气氮直接掺入有机分子的方法，以绕过在传统的能源密集型氨合成过程中产生的氨中间体。这可以消除合成有机氮化合物时对化石燃料衍生氢的需求。元素磷是含有这种元素的特种化学品的工业前体，包括阻燃剂和锂电池电解质。目前的初始氯化磷技术是浪费的，最明显的是当氯不存在于合成目标。寻找更直接地将磷掺入增值材料的方法。现代科技得益于先进的半导体材料，包括磷化镓和砷化铟。将开发控制和选择性地将氮、磷和砷掺入先进材料的方法。氮和磷是生物元素，其全球循环直接影响地球上的生命，因为DNA和蛋白质的合成都需要大量的氮和磷。这些元素也有间接影响，因为用于肥料生产的固氮是能源密集型的，而地下水中磷的流失导致了富营养化的爆发。将第15族元素纳入基本化合物的有效过程是负责任地管理我们宝贵的元素资源所需要的技术。

This award in the Chemical Synthesis (SYN) program supports work by Professor Christopher C. Cummins at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to carry out fundamental studies on the chemistry of compounds containing group 15 elements, with emphasis on nitrogen, phosphorus, and arsenic. Methods for the direct incorporation of atmospheric nitrogen into organic molecules will be sought in order to bypass the ammonia intermediate that is generated in the traditional energy-intensive ammonia synthesis process. This could remove the requirement for fossil fuel-derived hydrogen in the synthesis of organonitrogen compounds. Elemental phosphorus is the industrial precursor to specialty chemicals that contain this element, including those required as flame-retardants and lithium battery electrolytes. The present technique of initial phosphorus chlorination is wasteful, most obviously when chlorine is not present in the synthetic target. Methods are sought for a more direct incorporation of phosphorus into value-added materials. Modern technology benefits from advanced semiconducting materials including gallium phosphide and indium arsenide. Methods will be developed for the controlled and selective incorporation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and arsenic into advanced materials.Nitrogen and phosphorus are biogenic elements whose global cycles impact life on Earth directly, as they are required in large amounts for the synthesis of both DNA and proteins. These elements also have indirect impact, as nitrogen fixation for fertilizer manufacture is energy-intensive, and the loss of phosphorus to the oceans in ground water causes blooms of eutrophication. Efficient processes for incorporation of group 15 elements into essential compounds are required technology for responsible stewardship of our precious elemental resources.