N-Heterocyclic Carbene Metal Complexes: Synthesis, Properties and Applications, 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are nitrogen-containing cyclic carbenes stabilized by one or two heteroatoms. Since the isolation and characterization of the first stable crystalline-free NHC by Arduengo in 1991, the interest in this class of compounds has dramatically increased. As the study of NHCs, their properties, and ability to coordinate with transition metals continues, reports on  the applications of NHC–metal complexes have attracted more researchers into the field. NHC–metal complexes can be formed with both soft and hard metal ions, leading to additional applications. NHC ligands have numerous advantages over conventional phosphine or nitrogen ligands, such as outstanding σ donor and poor π acceptor abilities; thus, they form stronger NHC–metal bonds. Many reports indicate that NHC–metal complexes have proven to be more effective in most catalytic reactions than, for example, metal–phosphine complexes. Transition metal–NHC complexes, due to the presence of d-orbitals and ability to change oxidation state, are among the most used in modern catalysis. A number of complexes have exhibited unusual physico-chemical properties and found applications in material science and electronics. Furthermore, NHC–metal complexes, particularly those of silver(I), gold(I), and palladium(II), have been identified as active antimicrobial and anticancer agents with bioactivities similar to or exceeding those of drugs that are currently on the market. Despite a number of stable NHCs and their metallic complexes now being commercially available, there are still open and constantly growing opportunities for this field of study due to their intrinsic structural diversity.

This Special Issue intends to cover the most recent advances in the field of N-heterocyclic carbene metal complexes. It includes the design and preparation of new NHC ligands and their coordination with transition metals, characterization, physico-chemical properties, application in catalytic reactions, material science, medicinal chemistry, polymers, and access to commercially valuable molecules, drugs, and natural products.

Dr. Kostiantyn Marichev
Guest Editor

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• NHC–metal complexes
• σ-donors
• ligand design
• catalysis
• polymers
• antimicrobial and anticancer activity
• magneto- and photochemistry

• N-Heterocyclic Carbene Metal Complexes: Synthesis, Properties and Applications in Inorganics (5 articles)

Title: A Kinetic Study of the formation of a Tetradentate NCCN N-Heterocyclic Copp(II) Carbene Complex
Authors: Joseph P. Emerson
Affiliation: Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, United States