The first example of homogeneous N2 splitting mediated by rhenium as group 7 transition metal is reported and represents rare complete scission of the N-N bond in well-defined terminal nitrido complexes. These could be alkylated with electrophiles to imido complexes. Further functionalizations transform the nitrogen containing moeity into organonitriles under recovery of the starting material. Therefore, a synthetic cycle for the transformation of N2 into nitriles comprising three reaction steps is closed. Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of all involved complexes is presented.
