The inorganic imide is an inorganic chemical compound containing
- an anion with the chemical formula HN2−, in which nitrogen atom is covalently bonded to one hydrogen atom (as in lithium imide Li2NH and calcium imide CaNH). The other name of that anion is monohydrogen nitride.
- functional groups with the chemical formulas −NH− or =NH, in which nitrogen atom is also covalently bonded to one hydrogen atom, with two covalent single bonds or one covalent double bond from the nitrogen atom to other atoms, respectively (as in heptasulfur imide S7NH, sulfur diimide S(=NH)2 and nitroxyl O=NH).
Organic imides have the functional groups −NH− or =NH as well.
The imides are related to the inorganic amides, containing the H2N− anions, the nitrides, containing the N3− anions and the nitridohydrides or nitride hydrides, containing both nitride N3− and hydride H− anions.
In addition to solid state imides, molecular imides are also known in dilute gases, where their spectrum can be studied.
When covalently bound to a metal, an imide ligand produces a transition metal imido complex.
When the hydrogen of the imide group is substituted by an organic group, an organoimide results. Complexes of actinide and rare earth elements with organoimides are known.[1]