Snapshots of an oxidatively induced (alpha)-hydrogen abstraction reaction to prepare a terminal and four-coordinate titanium imide

One electron oxidation of the bis-anilido titanium(III) complex (Nacnac)Ti(NHAr)2(Nacnac–= ArNC(CH3)CHC(CH3)NAr, Ar= 2,6-(CHMe2)2C6H3) with AgOTf affords the cation [(Nacnac)Ti(NHAr)2][OTf] which is isolated and shown to gradually transform, by (alpha)-hydrogen abstraction, to the terminal and four-coordinate titanium imide (Nacnac)Ti=NAr(OTf).