Mono-N-heterocyclic carbene amido and alkyl complexes. Cobalt-mediated C-H activation and C-C coupling reactions involving benzyl ligands on a putative 3-coordinate intermediate

Aminolysis of [Co(NHC){N(SiMe3)(2)} Cl] with N-H acidic compounds such as substituted amidines and anilines leads to novel Co(II) complexes with monodentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligation. Attempts to prepare Co(II) dibenzyl complexes with bulky IPr co-ligands led to metal reduction to Co(I) and aromatic C-H activation and C-C coupling between the benzyl groups.