Photo-activation of d0 niobium imido azides: en route to nitrido complexes

Abstract

We report the synthesis and photo-reactivity of d⁰ niobium imido azido complexes supported by β-diketiminate ligands, which leads to the unprecedented formation of nitrides through a photo-assisted intramolecular rearrangement. This provides a new entry to metal nitrides that does not require low-valent metal centers and is a rare example in which the metal-imido moiety in group 5 complexes participates in reactivity.