Dissolution of an Os-VI equivalent to N complex with non-innocent, protic, tris-chelating NNN-ligands in aqueous KOH is shown to produce nitride derived N-2 and NH3. NH3 production was shown to greatly increase under H-2 pressure. Most importantly, both N-2 and NH3 generation are enhanced upon increasing [KOH]. The resulting putative complexes are trapped by in situ treatment with (KCN)-C-13 and shown to be NNN-ligated Os-III and Os-II species, in the absence and presence of H-2 respectively. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.