摘要
由製造工業及交通工具運轉所產生的氮氧化合物一直以來被認為是造成環境污染的主要成分。其中一氧化氮易與氧氣反應生成二氧化氮造成光煙霧及酸雨。氧化亞氮則會與單重態的氧氣(singletoxygen)反應產生一氧化氮，進而消耗臭氧，產生臭氧層的破洞。此外一氧化氮與氧化亞氮亦存在於一些厭氧性細菌的氮循環當中。在一般狀況下，要將NO轉變成N_2O或N_2、N_2O轉變成N_2都需要非常高的活化能，但藉著金屬化合物當作催化劑則可以有效率做上述的轉換。此外，一些金屬酵素也可以在溫和的條件下做上述的轉換。我們期望能對金屬化合物與一氧化氮或氧化亞氮的反應及金屬酵素催化轉換一氧化氮或氧化亞氮多做瞭解，以找出更有效的轉換方法。
並列摘要
N_xO_y resulting from industry and internal combustion engines are well known to have adverse effects on the environment. For example, nitric oxide could react with dioxygen to form nitrogen dioxide which causes the photochemical smong and acid rain. Nitrous oxide would react with singlet oxygen to produce nitric oxide that causes the ozone layer deletion. In addition, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide are well known to be included in the following series of reactions: NO_3^-_((aq)) → NO_2^-_((aq)) → NO_((g)) → N_2O_((g)) → N_(2(g)) found in denitrifying anaerobic bacteria.In general, the conversion of NO to N_2O or N_2 and the conversion of N_2O to N_2 are thermally unfavored, but the addition of metal complexes as catalyst effectively proceeds these conversions. In addition to the addition of catalyst, several metalloenzymes also catalyze these reactions under mild condition. The well understanding of the reactions of NO and N_2O with metal complexes and the catalytic mechanism of NO and N_2O reductases will promote the study on the activation of NO and N_2O.