A green route to platinum N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: mechanism and expanded scope

A sustainable and facile weak-base synthetic route to platinum N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes is disclosed. The mechanism of this reaction is also elucidated via experimental and computational investigations. This straightforward protocol is then used for the synthesis of novel Pt(ii)-NHC complexes and its utility is further explored to access key Pt(0)-NHC precatalysts.

Automated summary

A sustainable and facile method for synthesizing platinum N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes is disclosed in this study, and the mechanism of the reaction is elucidated through experimental and computational investigations. The protocol is further utilized to synthesize novel Pt(ii)-NHC complexes and explore its utility in accessing important Pt(0)-NHC precatalysts.