The Zirconium Benzyl Mediated C−N Bond Cleavage of an Amino-Linked N-Heterocyclic Carbene

Abstract

We report a nonreductive process mediated by zirconium alkyl complexes for the C−H bond activation and C−N bond cleavage of an anionic amino-linked carbene at room temperature. Reacting the amino-linked NHC with Zr(Bz) 4 led to the isolation of a rare species of metastable Zr complex possessing an azaallyl and an η 2 - N, C -imidazolyl carbene moiety.