Mono-, Bi- and Tridentate N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands for the Preparation of Transition-Metal-Based Homogeneous Catalysts

This microreview focuses on the preparation of homogeneous catalysts of group 8-11 metals containing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. The current status of the design of mono-, bi- and tridentate NHC ligands is reviewed through the description of the authors' own work, The catalytic applications of such complexes include hydrogen-borrowing, C-C coupling, reduction of double bonds and C-H activation reactions. ((c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)