Base accelerated generation of N2 and NH3 from an osmium nitride

• Addition of [KOH](aq) to an Os(BPB)NCl2 complex facilitates formation of N2.
• Addition of [KOH](aq) to an Os(BPB)NCl2 complex under H2 forms NH3.
• Both reactions are accelerated by increasing [KOH](aq).
• Derivitization of the resulting Os(BPB) complex was successful with KCN.

Dissolution of an OsVIN complex with non-innocent, protic, tris-chelating NNN-ligands in aqueous KOH is shown to produce nitride derived N2 and NH3. NH3 production was shown to greatly increase under H2 pressure. Most importantly, both N2 and NH3 generation are enhanced upon increasing [KOH]. The resulting putative complexes are trapped by in situ treatment with K13CN and shown to be NNN-ligated OsIII and OsII species, in the absence and presence of H2 respectively.

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