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: =: CN (2, 6-Pr (i) (2) C (6) H (3) ) CH (2) ; L': =: CN (2, 4, 6-Me (3) C (6) H (2) ) 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 Ga (6) octahedron (L'': GaGa (4) Mes (4) 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.