Modelling the hydrodenitrogenation of aromatic N-heterocycles in the homogeneous phase

Recent legislation directed at reducing nitrogen levels in fossil fuels has led to numerous studies of the hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) process, whereby nitrogen is removed from organic compounds in petroleum feedstocks. In this review a comprehensive study of the coordination, activation, hydro- genation, hydrogenolysis and denitrogenation of N-heterocycles assisted by transition metal complexes in either fluid solution or single-site systems, is reported. Furthermore, similarities to the reactions occurring in the HDN process over commercial heterogeneous catalysts are also discussed.