A complex with nitrogen single, double, and triple bonds to the same chromium atom: synthesis, structure, and reactivity† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. CCDC 1428950–1428953. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c5sc04608d Click here for additional data file. Click here for additional data file.

A nitrogen-based analogue of the Schrock and Clark “yl-ene-yne” complex, W(CBu)(CHBu)(CH2Bu )(dmpe), has been prepared. The new complex is the nitrido, imido, amido anion [NCr(NPh)(NPr2)2] , which was structurally characterized with the [K(crypt-2.2.2)] counterion. The “Cr–N 1-2-3” complex was prepared from NCr(NHPh)(NPr2)2, which exists as this nitrido–amido tautomer, rather than the bis(imido) Cr(NH)(NPh)(NPr2)2. By selection of electrophile, the nitrido–imido salt K[NCr(NPh)(NPr i 2)2] can undergo reaction at either the imido or the nitrido to form unusual examples of nitrido or bis(imido) complexes.