Reduction of n ‐C 5 H 11 N 3 Catalyzed by [Mo 2 Fe 6 S 8 (OMe) 3 (SC 6 H 4 ‐ p‐n ‐C 8 H 17 ) 6 ] 3– in an Aqueous Micellar Solution

Reduction of n ‐C 5 H 11 N 3 by Na 2 S 2 O 4 was performed in the presence of ( n ‐Bu 4 N) 3 [Mo 2 Fe 6 S 8 (OMe) 3 (SC 6 H4‐ p‐n‐ C 8 H 17 ) 6 ] (( n ‐Bu 4 N) 3 [Mo‐Fe]) as a catalyst in aqueous Triton X‐100 micellar solutions. The rate of the reduction is enhanced efficiently by the addition of methyl viologen (MV 2+ ). The methyl viologen radical cation (MV + ) produced by the reaction of MV 2+ with Na 2 S 2 O 4 undergoes a disproportionation reaction to afford MV 2+ and MV° in the micellar solution. The resultant MV° formed in the micelle transfers two electrons to [Mo‐Fe] 3− effectively to give [Mo‐Fe] 5− , which reduces n ‐C 5 H 11 N 3 with two electrons to produce n ‐C 5 H 11 NH 2 and N 2 .