Process for the benign direct fixation and conversion of nitrogen oxides

An organoaminomagnesium complex comprising compounds of formula (IIIa):

• [(R.sub.2 N).sub.i (R.sub.2 NNO.sub.2).sub.ja (R.sub.2 NN.sub.2 O.sub.4).sub.jb Mg].sub.m (IIIa)
• where:
• the R groups are the same or different and are hydrogen atoms, carbon containing groups or silicon containing groups;
• i is a number having a value less than 2.0 (i<2.0);
• ja and jb are numbers, the sum of which is greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 2.0 (0.0<ja+jb.ltoreq.2.0);
• and
• m is an integer having a value between 1 and infinity (1.ltoreq.m.ltoreq..infin.).

An organoaminomagnesium complex comprising compounds of formula (IIIb):

• [(R.sub.2 N).sub.i (R.sub.2 NNO.sub.2).sub.j Mg].sub.m (IIIb)
• where:
• the R groups are the same or different and are hydrogen atoms, carbon containing groups or silicon containing groups;
• i is a number having a value less than 2.0 (i<2.0);
• j is a number having a value greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 2.0 (0.0<j.ltoreq.2.0);
• and
• m is an integer having a value between 1 and infinity (1.ltoreq.m.ltoreq..infin.).

An organoaminomagnesium complex comprising compounds of formula (IIIc):

• [(R.sub.2 N).sub.i (R.sub.2 NN.sub.2 O.sub.4).sub.j Mg].sub.m(IIIc)
• where:
• the R groups are the same or different and are hydrogen atoms, carbon containing groups or silicon containing groups;
• i is a number having a value less than 2.0 (i<2.0);
• j is a number having a value greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 2.0 (0.0<j.ltoreq.2.0);
• and
• m is an integer having a value between 1 and infinity (1.ltoreq.m.ltoreq..infin.).

An organoaminomagnesium complex comprising compounds of formula (IV):

• [(R.sub.2 N).sub.i (R.sub.2 NN.sub.x O.sub.y).sub.j (N.sub.x O.sub.y).sub.k Mg].sub.m (IV)
• where:
• the R groups are the same or different and are hydrogen atoms, carbon containing groups or silicon containing groups;
• i is a number having a value less than 2.0 (i<2.0);
• j is a number having a value greater than or equal to 0.0 and less than or equal to 2.0 (0.0.ltoreq.j.ltoreq.2.0);
• k is a number having a value less than 2.0 (k<2.0);
• m is an integer having a value between 1 and infinity (1.ltoreq.m.ltoreq..infin.);
• x is an integer having a value between 1 and about 8;
• and
• y is an integer having a value between 1 and about 16.

A process comprising the step of:

• contacting a compound of formula (I):
• [(R.sub.2 N).sub.2 Mg].sub.n (I)
• with a compound of formula (II):
• N.sub.x O.sub.y (II)
• to form a reaction mixture comprising intermediates of formulas (III) and (IV):
• [(R.sub.2 N).sub.i (R.sub.2 NN.sub.x O.sub.y).sub.j Mg].sub.m(III)
• [(R.sub.2 N).sub.i (R.sub.2 NN.sub.x O.sub.y).sub.j (N.sub.x O.sub.y).sub.k Mg].sub.m (IV)
• under reaction conditions sufficient to facilitate the formation of the intermediates of formulas (III) and (IV), where:
• the R groups are the same or different and are a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched carbon containing group or a linear or branched silicon containing group;
• i is a number having a value less than 2.0 (i<2.0);
• j is a number having a value greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 2.0 (0.0<j.ltoreq.2.0) for compounds of formula (III) and a value greater than or equal to 0.0 and less than or equal to 2.0 (0.0.ltoreq.j.ltoreq.2.0) for compounds of formula (IV);
• k is a number having a value less than 2.0 (k<2.0);
• n is an integer having a value between 1 and infinity (1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq..infin.);
• m is an integer having a value between 1 and infinity (1.ltoreq.m.ltoreq..infin.);
• x is an integer having a value between 1 and about 8;
• and
• y is an integer having a value between 1 and about 16.

A process comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a scavenger comprising compounds of formula (I):
• [(R.sub.2 N).sub.2 Mg].sub.n (I)
• with a waste stream comprising compounds of formula (II):
• N.sub.x O.sub.y (II)
• to form a reaction mixture comprising intermediates of formulas (III) and (IV):
• [(R.sub.2 N).sub.i (R.sub.2 NN.sub.x O.sub.y).sub.j Mg].sub.m(III)
• [(R.sub.2 N).sub.i (R.sub.2 NN.sub.x O.sub.y).sub.j (N.sub.x O.sub.y).sub.k Mg].sub.m (IV)
• and an unreacted portion of the compounds of formula (I) under reaction conditions sufficient to facilitate the formation of the intermediates of formulas (III) and (IV);
• and
• (b) separating the reaction mixture into an intermediate product comprising the compounds of formulas (III) and (IV) and unreacted compounds of formula (I);
• where:
• the R groups are the same or different and are a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched carbon containing group or a linear or branched silicon containing group;
• i is a number having a value less than 2.0 (i<2.0);
• j is a number having a value greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 2.0 (0.0<j.ltoreq.2.0) for compounds of formula (III) and a value greater than or equal to 0.0 and less than or equal to 2.0 (0.0.ltoreq.j.ltoreq.2.0) for compounds of formula (IV);
• k is a number having a value less than 2.0 (k<2.0);
• n is an integer having a value between 1 and infinity (1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq..infin.);
• m is an integer having a value between 1 and infinity (1.ltoreq.m.ltoreq..infin.);
• x is an integer having a value between 1 and about 8;
• and
• y is an integer having a value between 1 and about 16.