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Nature Chemistry (26 September 2008) | doi:10.1038/nchem.68

Dinitrogen cleavage: Breaking bonds

Gavin Armstrong

The catalytic synthesis of ammonia has huge biological and industrial significance. The method, whether it is nitrogen fixation through enzymes or the Haber–Bosch process, must cleave the immensely strong N|[equiv]|N bond and usually relies on cooperation between the multiple metal atoms of a catalyst.