The use of two metal systems cis-Pt(NHC)(2)Me(2) and cis-Ir(NHC)(CO)(2)Cl help to highlight the flexibility of a series of cycloalkyl-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (ICy, ICy(7), ICy(8), ICy(12)). Bond dissociation enthalpies of several N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) in cis-Pt(NHC)(2)Me(2) are estimated. Electronic and steric parameters of the ICy(n) ligands are quantified and discu...

The presence of the additional heterocyclic nitrogen atoms in chiral P,N ligands has an important influence on the asymmetric catalysis, and a clear trend was observed in the present research that the enantioselectivity and reactivity were significantly increased by raising the number of heterocyclic nitrogen atoms in these P,N ligands. Through finely tuning the number of heterocyclic nitrogen ...

A new Au(III)-catalyzed tandem amination-hydration reaction has been discovered, leading to the formation of α-(N-2-pyridonyl)ketones and heterocyclic analogues in good to excellent yields (14 examples, 48-90%). This reaction demonstrates the unusual use of a heterocyclic sp(2) nitrogen nucleophile in a gold-catalyzed 6-endo-dig cyclization. The tandem process allows rapid access to α-(N-2-pyri...