“The publication describes the synthesis of some of the first examples of functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and their complexes, and looks at their application in catalytic C-C coupling.”

The publication is in a popular and exponentially expanding area of chemistry research. Our paper was a key publication at just the right time, developing new chemistry and demonstrating the potential of the field. The publication describes some of the first examples of complexes of functionalized carbene ligands and their application in homogeneous catalysis; it contains useful synthetic methodologies for compounds of broad and growing interest; and the complexes studied proved to be highly effective catalysts for carbon-carbon coupling—a very important area in synthetic chemistry.

The publication describes the synthesis of some of the first examples of functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and their complexes, and looks at their application in catalytic C-C coupling. The synthetic methodologies and the behavior of the complexes are described in detail, to give readers a comprehensive picture of the compounds and their reactivity.

The studies described in this publication relate to a rapidly expanding field of chemistry research, based around unique ligand species that impart useful properties on the metal centers to which they coordinate. The publication reports in detail on the synthesis and full characterization of these new ligand systems and on the metal complexes formed from the ligands. The application of these complexes, which form highly efficient catalyst systems for construction of molecules with applications in the fine chemicals and pharmaceutical areas, is then described.

I was looking for new areas and new opportunities in catalysis. The field of N-heterocyclic carbene chemistry had recently been reinvigorated by the isolation of free carbenes, which allowed investigators to apply these reactive species as ligands in organometallic chemistry and catalysis. Very little was known about the chemistry of these carbenes and I could see areas in which we could make a significant contribution to the field.