The syntheses of molybdenum terminal phosphide and dinitrogen complexes supported by N-isopropylanilide ligands are not as straightforward as those previously reported for the analogous N-tert-butylanilide complexes, To arrive at these synthetic targets, facile, high-yielding syntheses of bridging pnictide precursors have been developed, and their reduction chemistry has been explored. Cleavage of the reduced mu -E-1 compounds was undertaken using CO and N-2, providing access to the target compounds.