Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Palladium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis from Benzimidazolium Salts and Catalytic Activity in Carbon-carbon Bond-forming Reactions
Published on: July 30, 2017
Simple synthesis of neutral and cationic Cu-NHC complexes
1Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Xixi Campus, Hangzhou 310028, P. R. China. chenwzz@zju.edu.cn.
Abstract:
A direct and practical synthetic route to N-heterocyclic carbene copper complexes of [(NHC)CuX] (X = halide) and [(NHC)2Cu]PF6 types using commercially available copper powder is described. A number of copper-NHC complexes have been obtained in a range of yields from 26 to 99%. The reactions take place in air without removal of moisture and oxygen, and the excess of copper powder can be easily removed via simple filtration after completion. The direct reactions of imidazolium salts and copper powder can also be performed in aqueous media avoiding tedious purification processes. The procedure is also suitable for gram-scale preparation.
Related Concept Videos
Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature
Formation of Complex Ions
Aldehydes and Ketones with HCN: Cyanohydrin Formation Overview
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations: Structural Overview
Removing one hydrogen from the intervening CH2 group...
Aldehydes and Ketones with HCN: Cyanohydrin Formation Mechanism
Coordination Number and Geometry

