The in vogue N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have attracted attention largely for its new found popularity in chemical catalysis and also for displaying promising traits in biomedical applications. The current perspective provides an account of our efforts in exploring the utility of N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes in these two areas. On the catalysis front, we have employed the N/O-f...

[reaction: see text] The promising utility of triazolyl N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts in umpolung aldehyde chemistry requires a straightforward reliable synthesis from readily available materials. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a variety of triazolyl N-heterocyclic carbene precursors. The reactions commence from commercially available amino acids and proceed in 44-68% overall yields. T...

The reaction of [Pt(II)(2-phenylpyridine)(acac)] and benzothiazolium bromide yields the N,S-heterocyclic carbene ligand trans to pyridyl while, surprisingly, a very similar N,N-heterocyclic carbene coordinates predominantly trans to the cyclometallated carbon.

In the investigation of efficient chemical transformations, the carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions play an outstanding role. In this context, organocatalytic processes have achieved considerable attention.1 Beside their facile reaction course, selectivity, and environmental friendliness, new synthetic strategies are made possible. Particularly, the inversion of the classical reactivity (Umpol...