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Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
Published on: November 29, 2018
N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes in C-H Activation Reactions
Qun Zhao1, Guangrong Meng1, Steven P Nolan2
1Department of Chemistry , Rutgers University , 73 Warren Street , Newark , New Jersey 07102 , United States.
Abstract:
In this contribution, we provide a comprehensive overview of C-H activation methods promoted by NHC-transition metal complexes, covering the literature since 2002 (the year of the first report on metal-NHC-catalyzed C-H activation) through June 2019, focusing on both NHC ligands and C-H activation methods. This review covers C-H activation reactions catalyzed by group 8 to 11 NHC-metal complexes. Through discussing the role of NHC ligands in promoting challenging C-H activation methods, the reader is provided with an overview of this important area and its crucial role in forging carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds by directly engaging ubiquitous C-H bonds.
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