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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals
Published on: April 19, 2019
The chemistry of functionalised N-heterocyclic carbenes
1The Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama, Shelby Hall, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0336, USA. okuhl@bama.ua.edu
Abstract:
This tutorial review presents the synthesis, chemistry and applications of functionalised N-heterocyclic carbenes NHC and their transition metal complexes. Functionalised NHC comprise those carrying a phosphino-, amino-, imino- or oxygen-containing functionality on the imidazole sidechain. Main applications have been the modification of catalysts and their immobilisation by fixation on a polymeric support using the functional group. Whereas the functionalisation of the NHC has not improved their performance in catalysis, new developments have occurred in the use of imidazole-containing biomolecules such as L-histidine or caffeine as precursors for NHC.
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