Accessing Two‐Coordinate Zn^II Organocations by NHC Coordination: Synthesis, Structure, and Use as π‐Lewis Acids in Alkene, Alkyne, and CO₂ Hydrosilylation

Abstract

Discrete two-coordinate Zn^II organocations of the type (NHC)Zn-R⁺ are reported, thanks to NHC stabilization. In preliminary reactivity studies, such entities, which are direct cationic analogues of long-known ZnR₂ species, act as effective and tunable π-Lewis acid catalysts in alkene, alkyne, and CO₂ hydrosilylation.