Carbene Stabilization of Highly Reactive Main-Group Molecules

This article highlights recent efforts of this laboratory in the stabilization of highly reactive, low-oxidation-state, main-group molecules using bulky N-heterocyclic carbene ligands [L: = :C{N(2,6-Pri2C6H3)CH}2; L′: = :C{N(2,4,6-Me3C6H2)CH}2; L′′: = :C{(i-Pr)NC(Me)}2]. The syntheses, structures, and computational studies of carbene-stabilized neutral diborenes [L:(H)BB(H):L and L′:(H)BB(H):L′], a neutral Ga6 octahedron (L′′:Ga[Ga4Mes4]Ga:L′′), disilicon (L:SiSi:L), bis-silylene [L:(Cl)Si–Si(Cl):L], dipnictogens (L:E–E:L, E = P, As; L′:P–P:L′), and parent phosphinidene (L:PH) are discussed. Some of the unique challenges associated with this “carbene-stabilization” strategy are also presented.