Dual Activation in N-Heterocyclic Carbene-organocatalysis

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed transformations have found increasing interest in the last years. Recently, dual catalytic approaches using NHCs in combination with a second catalyst such as another organocatalyst or a metal-based catalyst or by the NHC itself have emerged. The careful choice of the proper combination of catalysts allows two compatible yet independent catalytic systems in one-pot to undergo tandem processes. Moreover, simultaneous action of two activators in a bond-forming event enables new reactivity, which often cannot be achieved by monocatalytic approaches.