Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemistry, 2004.Vita.Includes bibliographical references.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Chapter 1: Complexes obtained by electrophilic attack on a dinitrogen-derived terminal molybdenum nitride: Electronic structure analysis by solid state CP/MAS ¹⁵N NMR in combination ... Chapter 2. Carbene chemistry in the activation of a dinitrogen-derived terminal nitride of molybdenum ... Chapter 3. Nitrogen atom transfer from dinitrogen into an organic nitrile via the anionic ketimide complex (THF)²Mg[O(Ph)C¹⁵NMo(N[tBu]Ar)₃]₂ ...by Emma Louise Sceats.S.M