The C-H bond activation of methane using (PDI)-P-Ph,Me-M N [(PDI)-P-Ph,Me = 2,6-(PhN=CMe)(2)C5H3N] (M = V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Al, or P) has been studied via three reaction pathways: [2(sigma) + 2(pi)] addition, hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA), and direct insertion. The activating ligand is a nitride/nitridyl (N), with diiminopyridine (PDI) as the supporting ligand. Calculations show reasonable C-H activation barriers for Co, Ni, Al, and P (PDI)-P-Ph,Me nitrides, complexes that favor an HAA pathway. Electrophilic Ph,MePDI nitride complexes of the earlier metals with a nucleophilic actor ligand-V, Mn, Fe-follow a [2(sigma) + (2)pi] addition pathway for methane activation. Free energy barriers for methyl migration, (PDI)-P-Ph,Me-M(CH3)=NH -> (PDI)-P-Ph,Me-M-N(H)CH3, are also interesting in the context of alkane functionalization; discriminating factors in this mechanistic step include the strengths of the sigma-bond and metal-actor ligand pi-bond that are broken and the electrophilicity of the actor ligand to which methyl migrates.