title: Anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs): a versatile route to saturated NHCs bearing pendant weakly coordinating anions.
abstract: A versatile methodology is reported for the synthesis of anionic NHCs featuring a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered saturated heterocyclic core. Lewis acid promoted exocyclic ring closure generates systems in which the pendant borate functionality is incorporated via a CH2 linker, allowing for electronic and steric isolation of the anionic component. Hence, a library of NHCs can be accessed which incorporate metal binding environments essentially identical to the neutral parent donors, but with significantly altered solubility profiles.
authors.affiliation: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QR, UK. simon.aldridge@chem.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tirfoin
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aldridge