A series of molybdenum and tungsten nitrido, [M(N)(X)(diphos) 2 ], and imido complexes, [M(NH)(X)(diphos) 2 )]Y, (M ) Mo, W) with diphosphine coligands (diphos ) dppe/depe), various trans ligands (X ) N 3 -, Cl -, NCCH 3 ) and different counterions (Y -) Cl -, BPh 4 -) is investigated. These compounds are studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopies; they are also studied with isotope-substitution and optical-absorption, as well as emission, spectroscopies. In the nitrido complexes with trans-azido and -chloro coligands, the metal−N stretch is found at about 980 cm -1 ; upon protonation, it is lowered to about 920 cm -1 . The 1 A 1 f 1 E (n f π*) electronic transition is observed for [Mo(N)(N 3 )(depe) 2 ] at 398 nm and shows a progression in the metal−N stretch of 810 cm -1 . The corresponding 3 E f 1 A (π* f n) emission band is observed at 542 nm, exhibiting a progression in the metal−N stretch of 980 cm -1 . In the imido system [Mo(NH)(N 3 )(depe) 2 ]BPh 4 , the n f π* transition is shifted to lower energy (518 nm) and markedly decreases in intensity. In the trans-nitrile complex [Mo(N)(NCCH 3 )(dppe) 2 ]BPh 4 , the metal− N(nitrido) stretching frequency increases to 1016 cm -1 . The n f π* transition now is found at 450 nm, shifting to 525 nm upon protonation. Most importantly, the reduction of this nitrido trans-nitrile complex is drastically facilitated compared to its counterparts with anionic trans-ligands (E p red ) −1.5 V vs Fc + /Fc). On the other hand, the basicity of the nitrido group is decreased (pK a {[Mo(NH)(NCCH 3 )(dppe) 2 ](BPh 4 ) 2 } ) 5). The implications of these findings with respect to the Chatt cycle are discussed.