A general and versatile approach to thermally generated N-heterocyclic carbenes.

The synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) adducts by condensation of diamines with appropriately substituted benzaldehydes is described. This simplified approach provides the NHC adduct without first having to generate the carbene followed by its protection. These adducts undergo thermal deprotection to generate N-heterocyclic carbene in situ.

Comparative reactivity of sterically crowded nf3 (C5Me5)3Nd and (C5Me5)3U complexes with CO: formation of a nonclassical carbonium ion versus an f element metal carbonyl complex.

Sterically crowded isoelectronic nf(3) (C(5)Me(5))(3)M complexes of neodymium and uranium, compounds which have unconventionally long metal ligand distances, are found to react very differently with CO as a substrate. The 4f(3) complex (C(5)Me(5))(3)Nd reacts with CO to form a nonclassical carbonium ion complex, (C(5)Me(5))(2)Nd(O(2)C(7)Me(5)), which contains a three-coordinate planar carbon. (C(5)Me(5))(3)U reacts with CO to form an even more crowded CO adduct through a reaction type never observed before for (C(5)Me(5))(3)M compounds.

In situ generation of carbenes: a general and versatile platform for organocatalytic living polymerization.

A metal-free, organocatalytic approach to living polymerization using N-heterocyclic carbenes as nucleophilic catalysts generated and used in situ in a single-pot process is detailed. The N-heterocyclic carbene catalyst platform is extremely versatile, as the nature of the substituents has a pronounced effect of catalyst stability and activity toward different substrates. The generation of imidazolium- and thiazaolium-based carbenes was accomplished from the reaction of the corresponding salts with the appropriate bases.

Expanding the catalytic activity of nucleophilic N-heterocyclic carbenes for transesterification reactions.

[reaction: see text] Currently, there is a renewed interest in reactions that are catalyzed by organic compounds. Typical organic catalysts for acylation or transesterification reactions are based on either nucleophilic tertiary amines or phosphines. This communication discusses the use of nucleophilic N-heterocyclic carbenes as efficient transesterification catalysts.

First example of N-heterocyclic carbenes as catalysts for living polymerization: organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters.

A novel metal-free, organocatalytic approach to living polymerization is presented. N-heterocyclic carbenes were employed as nucleophilic catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic ester monomers. The catalysts is used in combination with an initiator, such as an alcohol, which generates an alpha-end group bearing the ester from the initiating alcohol upon ring-opening and a hydroxyl functional omega-chain end that propagates the chain.

The Trivalent Neodymium Complex [(C Me ) Nd] Is a One-Electron Reductant!

A Se complex, Ph P, and (C Me ) are formed in the reduction of Se=PPh by the Nd complex [(C Me ) Nd] [Eq. (a)]. The latter is thus reminiscent of [(C Me ) Sm], which, however, appears to be a stronger reductant than [(C Me ) Nd].