Skip to Content
Merck
CN
HomeProductsChemistry & BiochemicalsCatalystsNHC Ligands & Complexes

NHC Ligands & Complexes

Common NHC ligand surrounded by metals for catalysis

We are pleased to offer a diverse portfolio of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands and NHC complexes for use in organometallic chemistry and catalysis chemistry applications. NHC-based organocatalysis has become very useful for finding alternative synthetic pathways to target molecules that were previously difficult to produce. 

NHC ancillary ligands are preferable due to their ability to:

  • mediate an incredible breadth of transformations
  • provide robust stability of metal centers
  • bind to any transition metal in high or low oxidation states and to main group elements
  • are more active in many reactions than related phosphine catalysts
  • can be readily modified to incorporate chirality, immobilization, and H2O solubility 

Read more

Our wide range of stable NHC ligands exhibit high activity and selectivity with good stability and tolerance in various important organic transformations when combined with metal pre-catalysts.

  • NHC imidazolidine ligands with sterically encumbering groups such as mesityl, isopropyl, and adamantyl are widely used in arylation reactions, Sonogashira reactions, and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions.
  • NHC triazolium ligands have been found useful for many synthetic reactions, such as intermolecular homodimerization reactions, intramolecular Stetter reactions, oxidative Michael addition reactions, oxidative amidation or azidation, asymmetric acylation, crossed acyloin condensations, Domino ring-opening redox amidation, Knoevenagel condensation, Claisen rearrangement, Lewis acid- and N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed cyclo-condensation reactions and enantioselective cyclizations using Bode catalysts.

Our goal is to accelerate your cutting-edge research projects in NHC ligand-mediated chemistry. To this end, we offer a ligand kit composed of a diverse set of sterically-demanding NHC ligands. Discover how our NHC ligands and complexes can make a difference in your coordination chemistry.

Related Product Resources

  • N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Ligands

    Rapid progress in cross-coupling reactions of unactivated substrates catalyzed by metal complexes has transformed the chemical market-place through introduction of an extensive library of achiral and chiral phosphine ligands.

Related Product Categories
Transition Metal Catalysts
Discover our unparalleled portfolio of transition metal catalysts for your different organic and organometallic chemistry-based applications.
Olefin Metathesis
Explore our exceptional portfolio of olefin metathesis catalysts and take advantage of Grubbs’ technical expertise to advance your research and breakthrough synthesis ideas.
Inorganic Catalysts
Explore our unparalleled portfolio of common heterogeneous/inorganic catalysts such as platinum, palladium, ruthenium, and rhodium supported on porous carbon or silica.
Phosphine Ligands
Explore a wide array of phosphine ligands for cross-coupling reactions and diverse applications.
Related Applications
C–H Functionalization
C–H functionalization is the reliable and predictable conversion of a C–H into a C–C, C–N, C–O, or C–X bond in a selective and controlled fashion.
Cross-Coupling
Cross-coupling is a common reaction in organic chemistry for the creation of C-C, C-N, and C-O bonds with the aid of a metal catalyst.
Fluorination
Fluorination is the introduction of fluorine to a compound via electrophilic fluorination, nucleophilic fluorination, difluoromethylation, trifluoromethylation, or perfluoroalkylation.
Metathesis
Olefin metathesis involves an organic reaction that redistributes fragments of alkenes (olefins) by cleavage and transformation of carbon-carbon double bonds.
Photocatalysis
Photoredox catalysis utilizes photocatalysts in the presence of visible light to form an array of synthetic transformations including, but not limited to, cross-coupling, C-H functionalization, alkene and arene functionalization, and trifluoromethylation.
Organic Reaction Toolbox
An organic reaction toolbox provides structure-activity relationships for unique chemical reactions to optimally design and control small molecule synthesis.
RELATED SERVICES
SYNTHIA™ Retrosynthesis Software
Our custom cell culture product design experts can offer advice and support as you scale your bioprocess from clinical to commercial supply, assisting with liquid products, dry powder products, selection of raw materials, quality testing, flexible product packaging, and product documentation.
Bulk and Custom Services
We offer an extensive, reliable supply of production materials in bench to bulk volumes. Our custom services include quality control, testing, documentation services, chemical packaging, contract manufacturing according to your specifications.
Small Molecule Library Design (Aldrich Market Select)
Streamline the management of your screening compounds with our Aldrich Market Select online order center for small molecule libraries, comprising over 14 million chemistry building blocks and other useful services.
Sign In To Continue

To continue reading please sign in or create an account.

Don't Have An Account?