Donor-functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of group 9 and 10 metals in catalysis: Trends and directions

This review focuses on the latest advances in homogeneous catalysis with donor-functionalised (donor = C, N, O, S or P) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of group 9 and 10 metals. The applications of such complexes to C-C coupling reactions, alkyne and ketone hydrosilylation, olefin polymerisation, transfer hydrogenation, asymmetric hydrogenation and other catalysed reactions are discussed. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008).