Simple Access to Unsymmetrically Substituted, Saturated N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

Abstract

Secondary amines and imines were used to prepare unsymmetrically substituted, non-aromatic N-heterocyclic carbenes via imidazolidine-2-thiones (rac-1) as intermediates. The presence of only one sterically demanding substituent on one of the N atoms in rac-2 is sufficient to prevent dimerization to the enetetramine. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2003/z52349_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.