Transition metal imido complex

In coordination chemistry and organometallic chemistry, transition metal imido complexes is a coordination compound containing an imido ligand.

Complexes of the type M=NH are assumed to be intermediates in nitrogen fixation by synthetic catalysts.

They arise by condensation of amines and metal oxides and metal halides: This approach is illustrated by the conversion of MoO2Cl2 to the diimido derivative MoCl2(NAr)2(dimethoxyethane), precursors to the Schrock carbenes of the type Mo(OR)2(NAr)(CH-t-Bu).

They are however assumed to be intermediates in ammoxidation catalysis, in the Sharpless oxyamination, and in nitrogen fixation.

A molybdenum imido complex appears in a common nitrogen fixation cycle: with the oxidation state of molybdenum varying to accommodate the number bonds from nitrogen.

Structure of a representative imido complex (py = pyridine , CMe 3 = tert-butyl ) [ 1 ]
Core of W(NAr) 2 (N(H)Ar) 2 (Ar = C 6 H 3 -2,6-iPr 2 ). [ 2 ]
Typical Schrock-style olefin metathesis catalyst features imides as spectator ligands .
Structure of OsO 3 (N-t-Bu) (multiple bonds are not drawn explicitly). Selected distances: Os-N, 1.689; Os-O, 1.678 Å. [ 5 ]