The present account reviews the most recent noteworthy developments on the synthesis, structure and catalytic applications of Zn-NHC species, a class of complexes that have attracted attention over the past five to ten years due to their enhanced robustness and hydrolytic stability versus classical Zn organometallics. In particular, thanks to NHC stabilization, access to unprecedented Zn species were recently achieved, including two-coordinate Zn(II) organocations and thermally stable molecularly well-defined Zn hydride species, opening the way to effective Zn-mediated hydro-silylation/-boration catalysis of various unsaturated substrates under mild conditions. The potential of NHC-Zn species for the stabilization of unprecedented Zn species and use in various catalytic applications is only emerging and the vast array of readily available NHC structures should promote future developments of the field.
Keywords: Lewis acids; N-heterocyclic carbene; Zinc; catalysis.
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