Early transition metal amides may be prepared by treating anhydrous metal chloride with alkali amide reagents.  In some cases, two equivalents of a secondary amine can be used, one equivalent serving as a base:
:MCl + n LiNR → M(NR) + n LiCl
:MCl + 2n HNR → M(NR) + n HNR·HCl
Transition metal amide complexes have been prepared by these methods:
* treating a halide complex with an alkali amide
* deprotonation of a coordinated amine
* oxidative addition of an amine