Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Imine Metathesis by Silica-Supported Catalysts Using the Methodology of Surface Organometallic Chemistry
Published on: October 18, 2019
Mesoionic N-Heterocyclic Olefins, Imines, Thiones, Phosphinidenes and Their Application in Catalysis
Subir Maji1, Sreejyothi P1, Max M Hansmann2
1Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India.
Abstract:
Transition metal compounds are widely known for their ability to activate small molecules and are excellent catalysts for a wide range of reactions. However, environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives are highly desirable due to their toxicity and low abundance. In recent years, there has been a significant surge in the study of main-group-based species, mainly p-block element-derived compounds, which revealed reactivity resembling that of transition metal complexes. Recently, the mesoionic N-heterocyclic carbenes (mNHCs) adducts of p-block elements, containing exocyclic fragments such as ═CH2 (mNHOs), ═NR (mNHIs), ═PR (mNHPs), and ═S (mNHTs), have evolved as ligands for coordination chemistry, reactive species for the activation of small molecules, as well as efficient metal-free catalysts for various challenging organic transformations, driven by their strong nucleophilicity. This minireview documents recent breakthroughs in the synthesis, reactivity, and catalytic applications of mNHOs, mNHIs, mNHTs, and mNHPs.
More Related Videos
19:58Palladium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis from Benzimidazolium Salts and Catalytic Activity in Carbon-carbon Bond-forming Reactions
Published on: July 30, 2017
10:51The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine Formation Mechanism
Imines are formed under mildly acidic conditions. A pH of 4.5 is ideal for the reaction.
If the pH is low or the solution is too acidic, the reaction slows down in the...
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine and Enamine Formation Overview
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.