title: Ruthenium induced C-N bond activation of an N-heterocyclic carbene: isolation of C- and N-bound tautomers.
abstract: C-N bond activation of the N-heterocyclic carbene 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene occurs with Ru(PPh3)3(CO)HCl to give the C-2 bound 1-isopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene complex Ru(C-IiPrHMe2)(PPh3)2(CO)HCl via loss of propene. In the presence of free carbene, this undergoes tautomerism to the corresponding imidazole compound Ru(N-IiPrHMe2)(PPh3)2(CO)HCl.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, UK.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burling
authors.forename: Mary F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.forename: Rachael E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Whittlesey
authors.forename: Jonathan M J
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Williams