LCuOTf complexes [L = cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs) or N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs)] selectively promote the dehydrogenative borylation of C(sp)-H bonds at room temperature. It is shown that σ,π-bis(copper) acetylide and copper hydride complexes are the key catalytic species.

Neutral, C2-symmetric S/C/S ligands based on N-heterocyclic carbenes and thioether functionalities were incorporated into transition metal complexes characterised by two direct metal-stereogenic sulfur bonds. This new ligand design was applied to 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions as the first example of the use silver of carbenes in asymmetric catalysis.

Unexpected and unprecedented directed remote lateral lithiation at one CH(CH3)2 of the 3-(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl) wingtip took place upon the reaction of functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene-type molecules with excess of LiCH2SiMe3, leading to dilithiated dianionic 4-amido-N-heterocyclic carbenes. DFT calculations show that the nature of the isolated species are under thermodynamic control.

N-heterocyclic carbenes have been successfully established as versatile ligands in coordination chemistry, as powerful ancillary ligands in catalysis, as organocatalysts, and for an increasing number of other applications. In view of these applications the ability to vary the steric and electronic character of these ligands systematically, using simple modular synthetic routes, is a central the...

This publication describes a highly selective oxidation of aldehydes to the corresponding acids or esters. The reaction proceeds under metal-free conditions by using N-heterocyclic carbenes as organocatalysts in combination with environmentally friendly oxygen as the terminal oxidation agent.

Fluorophore tagged N-heterocyclic carbenes and the derived (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl complexes were synthesized and the fluorescence signal was used to follow the course of a Suzuki coupling reaction.

The synthesis of deoxy-Breslow intermediates in their oxidized form has been developed via the reaction of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) with chalcones. Moreover, the initial tetrahedral adduct formed from the 1,4-addition of NHCs to chalcones is also isolated.

Cyclometallated N-heterocyclic carbenes with an appended carbazole and chelating diphosphines brought together to achieve the first simple solution-processed green-emitting iTMC-LECs based on mononuclear Pt( ii ) complexes.

The versatile nucleophilic organic catalysts N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been shown to effectively mediate the transesterification of phosphorus esters under mild conditions; user-friendly imidazolium salts can also be employed as pre-catalysts.

Metal carbenes have for a long time been classified as Fischer or Schrock carbenes depending on the oxidation state of the metal. Since the introduction of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes this classification needs to be extended because of the very different electronic character of these ligands. The electronic structure of these different kinds of carbene complexes is analysed and compared to...