Plausible synthetic routes. Nikonov et al. synthesized (NacNac)Ga=NR by reacting (NacNac)Ga(I) with an azide R 2 N 3 that expels stable N 2 gas in the process (Figure ) . The same process can be used to obtain one of the best candidates -R 1 =TMS R 2 =Ph imide -and derivatives of imide A with bulky substituents. It can also be hypothesized that an intramolecular version of the deazidification process can yield imides C and D (Figure ).