Photooxidation of coordinated dinitrogen. Photolysis of the ClO2 adduct of [(NH3)5Os(μ-N2)Os(NH3)5]5+

Abstract The complex [(NH 3 ) 5 Os II (μ-N 2 )Os III (NH 3 ) 5 ] 5 + forms an adduct with ClO 2 which is photoactive. It is suggested that OSCT excitation is responsible for product formation. [(NH 3 ) 5 Os II (μ-N 2 )Os III (NH 3 ) 5 ] 5 +  + Cl IV O 2  —→ 2[Os II (NH 3 ) 5 (N + III O) 3 + ] + Cl − . This reaction seems to be a unique example of oxidative splitting of a N 2 ligand.