Abstract: Gold (I) hydroxide complexes of the form Z-Au-OH and digold complexes of the form Z—Au-(?OH)—Au—Z where groups Z are two electron donors are provided. The groups Z may be carbenes, for example nitrogen containing heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), phosphines or phosphites. The complexes can be used as catalysts, for example in reactions such as hydration of nitriles, skeletal arrangement of enynes, alkoxycyclisation of enynes, alkyne hydration, the Meyer-Shuster reaction, 3,3? rearrangement of allylic acetates, cyclisation of propargylic acetates, Beckman rearrangements and hydroamination. The complexes can be used in medicine, for example in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Catalytic complexes including a metal atom having anionic ligands, at least one nucleophilic carbine ligand, and an alkylidene, vinylidene, or allenylidene ligand. The complexes are highly stable to air, moisture and thermal degradation. The complexes are designed to efficiently carry out a variety of olefin metathesis reactions.

Abstract: Catalytic complexes including a metal atom having anionic ligands, at least one nucleophilic carbine ligand, and an alkylidene, vinylidene, or allenylidene ligand. The complexes are highly stable to air, moisture and thermal degradation. The complexes are designed to efficiently carry out a variety of olefin metathesis reactions.

Abstract: A number of cationic gold(I) and neutral gold(III) complexes have been synthesized and found to be stabilized by the use of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. These species are often employed as in situ-generated reactive intermediates in gold catalyzed organic transformations. An isolated, well-defined cationic species was tested in gold mediated carbene transfer reactions from ethyl diazoacetate.

Abstract: Catalytic complexes including a metal atom having anionic ligands, at least one nucleophilic carbine ligand, and an alkylidene, vinylidene, or allenylidene ligand. The complexes are highly stable to air, moisture and thermal degradation. The complexes are designed to efficiently carry out a variety of olefin metathesis reactions.

Abstract: Catalytic complexes including a metal atom having anionic ligands, at least one nucleophilic carbene ligand, and an alkylidene, vinylidene, or allenylidene ligand. The complexes are highly stable to air, moisture and thermal degradation. The complexes are designed to efficiently carry out a variety of olefin metathesis reactions.

Abstract: This invention provides a process which comprises contacting, in a reaction zone, at least one organic azide, at least one alkyne, and at least one N-heterocyclic carbene copper compound in which the ligands are either (i) a halide and an N-heterocyclic carbene or (ii) two N-heterocyclic carbenes and a BF4? or PF6? anion, to form a 1,2,3-triazole in which at least the 1 and 4 positions each has a substituent. The N-heterocyclic carbene either an imidazol-2-ylidene in which the 1 and the 3 positions each has a substituent which has at least one carbon atom, or a 4,5-dihydro-imidazol-2-ylidene in which the 1 and the 3 positions each has a substituent which has at least one carbon atom.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide for a palladium complex characterized by the general formula: where A is a bidentate monoanionic ligand, NHC is a nucleophilic heterocyclic carbene, and Z is an anionic ligand. Such palladium complexes are useful in initiating cross-coupling reactions.

Abstract: A synthetic method leading to the isolation of ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts relies on the cross metathesis reaction between (L1)Ru(L2)(3-phenylindenylid-1-ene)Cl2 (where L1 and L2 can be two-electron donors) and an olefin. This method leads to the isolation of numerous ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts.

Abstract: Imidazolium salts are the immediate precursors to N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) yet a simple, general synthetic route to a wide variety of imidazolium salts is not yet available. Such a straightforward route is described for two specific members of this family of ligand precursor: 1,3-Bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride (IMes.HCl) and 1,3-Bis(2,6-diispropylphenyl)imidazolium chloride (IPr.HCl). The procedure appears general and similar protocols can be used to isolate various imidazolium salts.

Abstract: A heterogeneous catalytic system for RCM is recyclable, shows reactivity, tolerates functional groups and performs with dienes and highly hindered substrates.

Abstract: Catalytic complexes including a metal atom having anionic ligands, at least one nucleophilic carbine ligand, and an alkylidene, vinylidene, or allenylidene ligand. The complexes are highly stable to air, moisture and thermal degradation. The complexes are designed to efficiently carry out a variety of olefin metathesis reactions.

Abstract: The cationic iridium carbene complexes [Ir(cod)(N)(L)]X have been synthesized by reaction of [Ir(cod)(py)2]PF6 with L or NL ligands. Complexes of this type are active hydrogenation catalysts capable of hydrogenating simple olefins at room temperature and atmospheric pressure of hydrogen or by transfer hydrogenation.

Abstract: A process for conducting coupling reactions of aryl halides with unsaturated silanes is described. The processes use N-heterocyclic carbenes as ancillary ligands in these coupling reactions. A coupling of an aryl halide with an unsaturated silane can be carried out by mixing, in a liquid medium, at least one strong base; at least one aryl halide or aryl pseudohalide in which all substituents are other than silyl groups, wherein the aryl halide has, directly bonded to the aromatic ring(s), at least one chlorine atom, bromine atom, or iodine atom; at least one silane wherein the silicon atom is quaternary, wherein one group bound to the silicon atom is unsaturated at the alpha or beta position, and wherein each of the remaining groups bound to the silicon atom is a saturated hydrocarbyl or a saturated hydrocarbyloxy group; at least one nickel, palladium, or platinum compound, wherein the formal oxidation state of the metal is zero or two; and at least one N-heterocyclic carbene.

Abstract: A Pd(OAc)2/diazabutadiene system has been developed for the catalytic cross-coupling of aryl halides with arylboronic acids. A combination of the diazabutadiene DAB-Cy (1, N,N′-Dicyclohexyl-1,4-dizabutadiene) and Pd(OAc)2 was found to form an excellent catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of various aryl bromides and activated aryl chlorides with arylboronic acids.

Abstract: A Pd(OAc)2/diazabutadiene system has been developed for the catalytic cross-coupling of aryl halides with arylboronic acids. A combination of the diazabutadiene DAB-Cy (1, N, N′-Dicyclohexyl-1,4-dizabutadiene) and Pd(OAc)2 was found to form an excellent catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of various aryl bromides and activated aryl chlorides with arylboronic acids.

Abstract: The cationic iridium carbene complexes [Ir(cod)(N)(L)]X have been synthesized by reaction of [Ir(cod)(py)2]PF6 with L or NL ligands. Complexes of this type are active hydrogenation catalysts capable of hydrogenating simple olefins at room temperature and atmospheric pressure of hydrogen or by transfer hydrogenation.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for conducting amination reactions. The processes of the present invention make use of N-heterocyclic carbenes as ancillary ligands in aminations of aryl halides and aryl pseudohalides. An amination can be carried out by mixing, in a liquid medium, at least one strong base; at least one aryl halide or aryl pseudohalide in which all substituents are other than amino groups, wherein the aryl halide has, directly bonded to the aromatic ring(s), at least one halogen atom selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom; at least one primary amine and/or at least one secondary amine; at least one metal compound comprising at least one metal atom selected from nickel, palladium, and platinum, wherein the formal oxidation state of the metal is zero or two; and at least one N-heterocyclic carbene.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for conducting Suzuki coupling reactions. The processes of the present invention make use of N-heterocyclic carbenes as ancillary ligands in Suzuki couplings of aryl halides and aryl pseudohalides. A Suzuki coupling can be carried out by mixing, in a liquid medium, at least one strong base; at least one aryl halide or aryl pseudohalide in which all substituents are other than boronic acid groups, wherein the aryl halide has, directly bonded to the aromatic ring(s), at least one halogen atom selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom; at least one arylboronic acid in which all substituents are other than chlorine atoms, bromine atoms, iodine atoms, or pseudohalide groups; at least one metal compound comprising at least one metal atom selected from nickel, palladium, and platinum, wherein the formal oxidation state of the metal is zero or two; and at least one N-heterocyclic carbene.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for conducting Kumada coupling reactions. The processes of the present invention make use of N-heterocyclic carbenes as ancillary ligands in Kumada couplings of aryl halides. A Kumada coupling can be carried out by mixing, in a liquid medium, at least one aryl halide, wherein the aryl halide has, directly bonded to the aromatic ring(s), at least one halogen atom selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom; at least one Grignard reagent; at least one metal compound comprising at least one metal atom selected from nickel, palladium, and platinum, wherein the formal oxidation state of the metal is zero or two; and at least one N-heterocyclic carbene.