Starting from Mo(N 2 ) 2 (depe) 2 (1), the nitrido complex Mo(N)-(N 3 )(depe) 2 (2) was obtained by the reaction of 1 with Me 3 -SiN 3 . Subsequent reaction of 2 with HCl in CH 3 OH afforded the cationic imido chloride 3, which could be converted into the nitrido chloride 4 with sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide. From 3 and 4 the hydrido complexes of the type Mo(H)(L)-(depe) 2 [L = N (7), NBEt 3 (8)] were obtained by the reaction with the hydride reagents LiBH 4 and NaHBEt 3 . The hydridic character of the L n M-H bond of 8 was determined by DQCC measurements (bond ionicity i = 81 %). Hydride reactivity studies were carried out on 7 and 8; however, only 8 underwent hydride transfer reactions. 8 reacted with 4,4Ј-dichlorobenzophenone and acetophenone to afford the correspond-