Heterocyclic Carbenes: Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry

TLDR

Heterocyclic carbene chemistry has expanded rapidly, encompassing diverse cyclic diaminocarbenes, P‑heterocyclic carbenes, and other variants, with recent advances in synthetic methods for N‑heterocyclic carbene complexes. This review summarizes recent developments in the synthesis of N‑heterocyclic carbenes and their metal complexes.

Abstract

The chemistry of heterocyclic carbenes has experienced a rapid development over the last years. In addition to the imidazolin-2-ylidenes, a large number of cyclic diaminocarbenes with different ring sizes have been described. Aside from diaminocarbenes, P-heterocyclic carbenes, and derivatives with only one, or even no heteroatom within the carbene ring are known. New methods for the synthesis of complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands such as the oxidative addition or the metal atom template controlled cyclization of beta-functionalized isocyanides have been developed recently. This review summarizes the new developments regarding the synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbenes and their metal complexes.