Novel type of trifunctional chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors

The synthesis of (S)-2-amino-3-(3-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium-1-yl)propanoate as the parent homologue of a novel generation of chiral NHC precursors is described. Crystallographic data for the novel chiral Ni-II complex, and Boc-protected amino acid containing imidazolium moiety are also given. The silver(I) carbene complex of the Boc-protected amino acid has been obtained. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.