N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) can be used as ligands for organometallics complexes, which can then facilitate numerous catalytic applications, such as, C-H activation, small molecule activation and numerous materials applications. The use of anionically-tethered NHCs for usage with electropositive metals has been pioneered by the Arnold group within the last decade. This thesis describes the synthesis of both aryloxide- and amide-tethered NHC organometallic complexes of s-, p-, d- and f-block metals to provide a platform for small molecule activation. Once synthesised, the reactivity of some of these complexes were tested by reaction with CO2 with the aim of turning a molecule considered a harmful (environmentally), waste product into value added products, potentially providing an alternative fuel source. Chapter One introduces the use of anionically-tethered NHCs for use in a number of organometallic complexes as well as their current potential as catalysts for a number of important small molecules. This chapter focuses upon the differences between complexes tethered with anionic O, N, P, S elements, f-element NHC complexes and the use of d-block NHC complexes for catalysis. Chapter Two contains the synthesis and characterisation of a number of aryloxy-tethered NHC p-, d- and f-block organometallic complexes using the ligand H2(LArO R)2. The synthesis of SnII complexes including the synthesis of new ‘normal’ ‘abnormal’ complexes given enough steric bulk around the Sn centre due to the lone pair present in Sn complexes, preventing one of the ligands binding through the classical carbene position and therefore binding through the backbone C4 carbon. The synthesis of MII (Zn, Co and Fe) complexes to compare the solid-state structure and binding mode of the carbenes. The synthesis and characterisation of MIII (Ce and Eu) complexes to assess the solid-state structure and binding modes within f-bock complexes. Chapter Three investigates the reactivity of the MII complexes (Sn, Zn, and Fe) with CO2. Successful reactions were characterised using NMR and further treated with alkynes to target catalytic reactions. Chapter Four contains reactions to target a number of amide-tethered bis (NHC) s-, p-, d- and f-block organometallic complexes using the proligand, H4(LN Mes)Cl3. Deprotonation studies undertaken with a number of bases to give the MI (Li and K) salts and MII (Mg) salts and proved to be unsuccessful upon isolation. Reactions to synthesise the p-, d- and f-block complexes were then undertaken using in situ free carbene production as well as the attempted isolation of the free carbene, both of which also proved unsuccessful. Chapter Five provides an overall conclusion to the work presented in Chapters Two, Three and Four within this thesis. Chapter Six gives the experimental and characterising data for the complexes and reactions.

This thesis presents an investigation into the synthesis of metal complexes of (Nheterocyclic carbene)-based cyclophanes. There were three main areas of focus: synthesis and complexation of bis(4,5-dihydroimidazolium) salts; the synthesis and complexation of phenol-functionalised imidazolium cyclophanes; and the synthesis and complexation of (N-heterocyclic carbene)-based cyclophanes by C-C bond activation of biimidazolium salts with electron-rich metals. The synthesis of xylyl-linked bis(4,5-dihydroimidazolium) salts was investigated. Attempts to prepare these compounds by the cyclisation of a tetraamine (linear or macrocyclic) were unsuccessful due difficulties in preparing the tetraamines. The target compounds could be prepared by adapting the methods developed for the synthesis of bis(imidazolium) salts however problems associated with purification and stability of the products prevented complexation studies. A series of phenol-, phenoxide- and anisole-functionalised imidazolium cyclophanes were prepared. Their structural properties were investigated using dynamic nmr studies and X-ray crystallography. Complexation of the functionalised cyclophanes was investigated. The phenol cyclophane I formed a dinuclear complex with mercury(II). This complex is the first example of a complex derived from a phenol-functionalised imidazolium cyclophane. However the anisole cyclophane II and the unsymmetrical phenol/ortho cyclophane III were unable to form complexes possibly due to steric hindrance and instability of the cyclophane respectively. Preliminary complexation studies of the bis(imidazolium)phenol V suggested that complexation with palladium(II) and mercury(II) were possible but more work is required to determine the optimum reaction conditions. A series of biimidazolium salts VI (both new and known) were prepared. Previously reported biimidazolium salts have very low solubility in common solvents therefore the incorporation of long alkyl chains to the bridging group was investigated as a means to improve the solubility. The structure of the salts was explored using a range of techniques including dynamic nmr spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, UV/Visible spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry. Some of the biimidazolium salts were able to rotate about the C2-C2' bond and the free energy of activation for this process was estimated using dynamic nmr studies. C-C bond activation of the biimidazolium salts with palladium(0) was used to form a series of palladium(II) complexes (VII) of (NHC)-based cyclophanes. These reactions are the first examples of the synthesis of bis(NHC) complexes by C-C bond activation. The reactivity of the biimidazolium salts with palladium(0) was compared to their solution structure and it was found that only the biimidazolium that were able to rotate about the C2-C2' bond could react with palladium(0).

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are good ligands to most transition metals forming stable complexes. Many of the NHC-metal complexes are now widely used catalysts. However, the usage of these catalysts encounters the general problems associated with homogeneous catalysis: the purification of the catalysis reaction products is often time-consuming and generates large amounts of waste. Moreover, the toxic or expensive catalysts are difficult to be separated, recycled, and reused. Chapters II and III of this dissertation focus on addressing these problems through the development of an easier and “greener” process to improve the usage of some NHC-metal complexes. Polymer-supported catalysts and polymer-supported sequestrants were prepared and used to facilitate the separation/recycling of catalysts and the purification of products. These polymer-supported ligands, catalysts, and sequestrants showed comparable reactivity to their low molecular weight counterparts and had different solubility properties due to the nature of polymers. Using these materials with the corresponding operations provides simple methods to separate deeply colored, metal-containing by-products from the reaction mixtures. Chapter IV of this dissertation aims at solving a fundamental question about the nature of NHC-silver(I) complexes. The NHC-silver(I) complex is an important synthetic intermediate as it can be used to prepare other NHC-metal complexes through transmetallation. The carbene carbon of an NHC-silver(I) complex in 13C NMR spectra was usually reported as a doublet of doublets or as a singlet in different cases. This phenomenon was explained with a ligand exchange mechanism proposed twelve years ago. However, few reports are available in the literature about the mechanism of the NHC ligand exchange processes at silver. In order to facilitate the study of the solution behaviors of NHC-silver(I) complexes, 13C-labeled NHC-silver(I) complexes were prepared and studied using variable temperature 13C NMR spectroscopy. This study could be useful for future applications of ligand transferring from silver to other metals for the preparation of NHC-metal complexes.

The design, synthesis and characterization of novel conjugated polymers are described. Using a coupling reaction recently developed within our labs, polymers were constructed through triazene linkages generated by joining N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) with organic azides. This triazene reaction produced polymer of sufficiently high molecular weight as to be spin-coated and rendered conductive upon doping with iodine. The reaction also has potential for executing post-polymerization modifications. This was evidenced through rapid functionalization of poly(4-methylazido-styrene) via triazene formation using a commercially available N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC). A formal anion metathesis of benzobis(imidazolium)s was used to transform neutral block copolymers into block ionomers. Further investigation of the block ionomers revealed their solvent mediated self assembly. The gradual change of organic to aqueous media caused the adoption of a three-dimensional micelle conformation as determined by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Through the exploitation of carbene-carbon disulfide adducts, new chain transfer agents were generated. After 2-dithiocarboxylate-imidazolium adduct formation, alkylation was performed with benzyl bromide. The resulting charged chain transfer agent was tested for its ability to moderate radical addition fragmentation (RAFT) polymerizations of styrene. A considerable increase in transfer kinetics as compared to that of commonly used RAFT agents was observed whilst retaining low polydispersity and molecular weight control. The rate enhancement is presumably due to the electron withdrawing imidazolium activating the thionyl towards the nucleophilic radical while retaining effective fragmentation. Ion coordinating macrocycles were affixed to a poly(methacrylate) scaffold for employment as electrolyte extractants. Polymer bound calix[4]pyrrole was found to complex fluoride and chloride with sufficient strength as to extract tetrabutylammonium salts from water. Enhanced extraction abilities were observed when calix[4]pyrrole was used in conjunction with benzo-15-crown-5. Methacrylate polymers containing both macrocycles affected the removal of aqueous potassium fluoride from a biphasic water/dichloromethane mixture. To provide evidence for the presence of potassium fluoride within the dichloromethane layer, ¹⁹F NMR and flame emission spectroscopy were used. / text

With the ever expanding utility of transition metal catalysis, there has been a thrust both to develop catalysts with unique selectivites or activites, and to understand the factors which govern these characteristics at both a fundamental and practical level. Olefin metathesis has become an essential reaction for the synthesis of small molecules in addition to polymeric materials. We have pursued two distinct ligand classes based on diaminocarbenes with novel architectures to address specific limitations within this useful class of reactions: 1) limited access to polymeric materials with controlled microstructures and 2) poor stereoselectivity in Ru-catalyzed cross-metathesis (CM) reactions. Numerous phosphines and N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been used as ligands for Ru metathesis catalysts, and the resulting activity is very sensitive to their steric and electronic nature. We envisioned that we could take advantage of this dependence by developing a catalyst with tunable ligand donicity. Redox-switchable ligands can lead to catalysts whose selectivity and/or activity are dependent upon the ligand oxidation state. Towards this purpose, we have developed a ligand which incorporates a 1,1’-disubstituted ferrocene moiety into the backbone of a diaminocarbene (FcDAC). Upon ligation of FcDAC to various transition metals, we were able to use cyclic voltammetry and a spectroelectrochemical FT-IR experiment to show electronic communication between FcDAC and the coordinated metal. We then pursued Ru metathesis catalysts incorporating these ligands. The ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 1,5-cyclooctadiene was studied using [(FcDAC)(PPh₃)Cl₂Ru=(3-phenylindenylid-2-ene)] as the catalyst. Chemical redox reactions were used to establish the ability of FcDAC to impart redox-tunable properties to Ru metathesis catalysts. A new ligand class pioneered in our group, N-aryl,N-alkyl acyclic diaminocarbenes (ADCs), was also studied in various Ru metathesis catalysts. To our delight, these catalysts showed lower E : Z ratios than analogous NHC ligands in two representative CM reactions. We also investigated the conformational diversity of these differentially substituted ADCs given their ability to rotate about their C–N bonds, in particular, to determine how this might influence their donicity. Complexes of the type [(ADC)Ir(COD)Cl] and [(ADC)Ir(CO)₂Cl] were studied, given the wealth of structural and spectral data available for analogous compounds incorporating related ligand classes. Different conformations resulted depending on the N-substituents and the nature of the metal complex. Interestingly, the electron donating ability of ADC ligands was found to depend on their conformation, as evidenced by FT-IR and cyclic voltammetry. This established a new avenue for tuning the donor properties of differentially substituted ADC ligands. The unique properties of these novel ligand classes were demonstrated in Ru metathesis catalysts. However, on a broader level, these ligands are expected to have utility in diverse catalytic applications. / text

In the last ten years, N-heterocyclic carbenes(NHCs) have gained tremendouspopularity, notably as highly versatile ligands for transition metals. Their strong -donatingproperties, associated with high steric hindrance, often impart enhanced stability and activity to a given metallic center. Two main successes of the NHCs in homogeneous catalysis are arguably the ruthenium-mediated olefin metathesis and the palladium-promoted crosscoupling reactions.In this work, we have studied the effect of N-heterocyclic carbenes as supporting ligands in well-defined complexes of palladium(II), gallium(III), and gold(I) that we used in homogeneous catalysis.Notably, we have synthesized, in very straightforward manners, two families of palladium compounds of formulae [(NHC)Pd(L)Cl], where L, which is a R-allyl or R-acac moiety, acts as a protecting shell for the catalytically active [(NHC)Pd0] species. Hence,upon activation under the reaction conditions, these new Pd complexes were found extremely active in the Suzuki-Miyaura, the Buchwald-Hartwig, and the -ketone arylation cross-coupling reactions. More precisely, the more active "R-allyl family" allowed for reactions to be performed with as low as 10 ppm of palladium.A series of [(NHC)GaCl3] complexes wa synthesized via a simple one-step procedure. The resulting unprecedented NHC-GaIII compounds were found extremely stable but showed only moderate activity in isomerization reactions.Demonstrating further the versatile application of NHCs in metal-based catalysis, wedeveloped several new catalytic transformations using [(NHC)AuCl] complexes. Hence,these pre-catalysts, activated in situ with a silver salt, proved to be excellent activators ofalkynes, allenes, and alkenes. This led to the development of efficient synthetically usefulprotocols, encompassing enyne cycloisomerization, indene cyclization,formation of conjugated enone, and allylic rearrangement.KEYWORDS gallium - gold - homogeneous catalysis - N-heterocyclic carbene - palladium 8 / En los últimos diez años, los carbenos N-heterocíclicos (NHCs) han ganado una granpopularidad, especialmente como ligandos versátiles de metales de transición. Su fuertecarácter −donor, asociado con su gran impedimento estérico, confieren a menudo unamayor estabilidad y actividad al centro metálico en cuestión. Los dos mayores éxitos de losNHCs en catálisis homogénea se encuentran, sin duda, en la metátesis de olefinas catalizadapor rutenio y en las reacciones de acoplamiento cruzado promovidas por paladio.En este trabajo, hemos estudiado el efecto de los carbenos N-heterocíclicos comoligandos en complejos bien definidos de paladio(II), galio(III) y oro(I), que hemos empleadoen catálisis homogénea.En particular, hemos sintetizado, de forma directa, dos familias de compuestos de paladio de fórmula general [(NHC)Pd(L)Cl] donde L, grupo R-alilo o R-acac, actúa como protector para las especies catalíticamente activas [(NHC)Pd0]. De hecho, tras la activaciónen las condiciones de reacción, estos nuevos complejos de paladio se mostraron extremadamente activos en las reacciones de Suzuki-Miyaura, de Buchwald-Hartwig y en la -arilación de cetonas. Más concretamente, la 'familia R-arilo', más activa, permitió llevar a cabo estas reacciones con tan sólo 10 ppm de paladio.Una serie de complejos [(NHC)GaCl3] fue preparada en una simple etapa. Los compuestos resultantes NHC-GaIII, sin precedentes en la literatura, se mostraron extremadamente estables pero sólo moderadamente activos en reacciones de isomerización.Con el fin seguir ampliando la gran aplicabilidad de los NHCs en catálisis conmetales, estudiamos varias nueva transformaciones utilizando los complejos [(NHC)AuCl].De hecho, estos pre-catalizadores, activados in situ con una sal de plata, demostraron ser excelente activadores de alquinos, alenos y alquenos. Esto llevó al desarrollo de protocolos eficientes, y sintéticamente útiles, tales como la cicloisomerización de eninos, la ciclación deindenos, la formación de enonas conjugadas, y reordenamientos arílicos.

The significant role that nitric oxide plays in human physiology is linked to the ability of NO to bind to iron forming mono-nitrosyl iron complexes. Protein-bound and low-molecular-weight dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) are known to form in excess NO. Studies of such biological DNICs have relied on their paramagnetism and characteristic EPR signal of g value of 2.03. It has been suggested that DNICs act in vivo as NO storage (when protein-bound) and transfer agents (when released by, for example, free cysteine). Biological DNICs, mainly resulting from iron-sulfur cluster degradation, are difficult to extract and isolate, thereby preventing their full characterization. Thus, development of synthetic DNICs is a promising approach to model and better understand the formation and function of biological DNICs, the scope of donor ligands that might coexist with Fe(NO)2 units, the redox levels of bio-DNICs, and establish other spectroscopic techniques appropriate for characterization. A series of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and imidazole (Imid) complexes has been characterized as mimics of histidine-containing DNICs. The pseudo-tetrahedral L2Fe(NO)2 complexes have NO stretching frequencies and redox potentials that suggest the NHCs are slightly better donors than Imids, however the two types of ligands have similar steric properties. Both the EPR-active, {Fe(NO)2}9 and the EPR-silent, {Fe(NO)2}10 states can be accessed and stabilized by the NHC. Nitric oxide transfer studies have shown that only the {Fe(NO)2}9 complexes are capable of transferring NO to a suitable NO trapping agent. Deprotonation of the distal nitrogen functionality in the imidazolate ligands of [(Imidazole)2Fe(NO)2]- leads to aggregation forming molecular squares of {Fe(NO)2}9 units bridged by the imidazolates. These interesting tetrameric complexes are examined by X-ray diffraction, EPR, and Mössbauer studies. The paramagnetic tetrameric complexes have multiple redox events observed by cyclic voltammetry. Mössbauer spectral data of the tetrameric complexes are compared with Mössbauer data obtained for a series of NHC-containing DNICs. Iron and cobalt-containing mononitrosyl N2S2 model complexes of the nitrile hydratase enzyme active site demonstrate sulfur-based reactivity resulting in the formation of polymetallic complexes. In all cases, shifts in the nitrosyl stretching frequencies demonstrate substantial transfer of electron density from the (NO)M(N2S2) moiety to the metal-acceptor site.

La préparation efficace d’une nouvelle famille de sels de 1,3-bis(aryl)-4,5-dihydroimidazolium non symétriques comprenant un groupement encombrant hexafluoroisopropylmethoxy en position para- ou ortho- sur l’un des substituants N-aryle a été développée. De nouveaux sels d’imidazolium contenant un substituant fluoroalkyle en position ortho d’un des substituant aryle ont aussi été synthétisés. Ces sels sont d’excellents précurseurs de carbènes N-hétérocycliques qui ont permis l’accès efficace à une série de nouveaux complexes carbéniques du ruthénium à ligands NHC non symétriques. La méthode repose sur la génération in situ du carbène par traitement des sels d’imidazolium avec le potassium hexamethyldisilazide suivie d’un échange du ligand tricyclohexylphosphine à partir des complexes de Grubbs et Hoveyda de première génération. L’activité de ces nouveaux complexes a été étudiée sur des réactions modèles intra- et intermoléculaires de métathèse des oléfines. Il a été montré que la plupart des complexes synthétisés ont de bonnes activités catalytiques en fermeture de cycle à partir du diallylmalonate d’éthyle et en métathèse croisée de l’allylbenzène avec le 1,3-diacetoxybut-2-ene. Leurs performances sont comparables à celles des catalyseurs de Grubbs et Hoveyda de seconde génération, avec toutefois quelques différences dans les étapes d’initiation. Les effets structuraux et électroniques des ligands NHC non symétriques sur la réactivité des nouveaux complexes du ruthénium ont été étudiés. En particulier, il a été montré que les catalyseurs de type Hoveyda porteurs de ligands monosubstitués par un groupement fluoroalkyle en position ortho d’un des substituant N-aryle présentent une initiation très rapide dans les réactions de métathèse croisée. Au contraire, les complexes porteurs d’un groupement donneur alkyle ont montré une activité catalytique très faible, comme par exemple le complexe porteur d’un ligand (tert-butyl)NHC qui s’est révélé inerte à la fois en fermeture de cycle et métathèse croisée. Les complexes porteurs d’un ligand NHC symétrique avec deux groupes hexafluoroisopropylmethoxy ont des activités catalytiques nettement inférieures à leurs homologues non symétriques, révélant ainsi la forte influence de l’absence de symétrie du ligand carbène NHC dans l’activité catalytique des complexes. / An efficient approach to a new family of unsymmetrical 1,3-bis(aryl)-4,5-dihydroimidazolium salts comprising bulky hexafluoroisopropylmethoxy group in para- or ortho-position in one of the N-aryl substituents has been developed. New imidazolinium salts with fluoroalkyl-containing mono-ortho-aryl substituent at one of the nitrogen atom have also been synthesized. It was found that these imidazolinium salts are effective NHC precursors and provided an efficient access to a series of new ruthenium carbene complexes with unsymmetrical fluorinated NHC ligands. The method involves in situ generation of the carbene via treatment of the starting salts with potassium hexamethyldisilazide and subsequent ligand exchange reaction with PCy3-containing first generation Grubbs and Hoveyda complexes. The catalytic activity of the new complexes has been investigated on model reactions of intra- and intermolecular olefin metathesis. It was found that most of the synthesized complexes exhibited high activity in cyclization of diethyl diallylmalonate and in cross metathesis of allyl benzene with 1,3-diacetoxybut-2-ene. Their performance has proved to be comparable with commonly used second generation Grubbs and Hoveyda catalysts, with sometimes some differences in the initiation step. Structural and electronic impact of fluorinated unsymmetrical NHC on reactivity of new ruthenium complexes has been studied. In particular, it was revealed that Hoveyda type catalysts with mono-ortho-aryl substituted NHC ligands have demonstrated very high initiation rate in CM reactions. On the contrary, catalysts with more donating N-alkyl NHCs have displayed low activity; for instance, the N-tert-butyl substituted complex has proved to be absolutely inert both in RCM and CM reactions. Symmetrical ruthenium carbene complexes bearing NHC ligands with two hexafluoroisopropylmethoxy group in para-positions of N-aryl moieties are significantly inferior in reactivity with respect to their asymmetric counterparts showing the strong influence of the desymmetrization factor on catalytic activity.

The chapter one introduces the reported examples of rare earth metal (RE) complexes with different oxidation states. It also reviews the synthesis and reactivity study of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) supported transition metal and RE metal complexes. Chapter two focusses on the synthesis and characterisation of a series of tetraaryloxide Ce and Pr complexes. With the reaction of bulky tetraphenol proligand H4LR(R = P, PT, M) with four equivalents of KN"(N" = N(SiMe3)2), a dimerised complex of [K4LP]2(thf)11 was synthesised and characterised. The salt metathesis reactions of this complex with RECl3(thf)2 afford bimetallic aryloxide complexes of K2L2RE2(thf)11 (RE = Ce, Pr), which display divergent structures under different conditions. Reactions of the CeIII complex of K2L2Ce2(thf)11 with a variety of oxidants(I2, CuCl2 and O2, etc.) lead to the oxidation of CeIII to CeIV, affording purple ceric dimer of L2Ce2. The reaction of the PrIII complexes with I2 under 60 °C affords a mixture from which PrIII iodide (LPr2I2) has been isolated and characterised. This chapter also discusses the reactivity of the bimetallic aryloxide complexes towards different substrates, such as MeLi, KC8 and KBn (Bn = benzyl). Bimetallic complexes of L(REX)2(py)8 (RE = Ce, Pr; X = Cl, BH4) are synthesised and characterised. The preliminary study on the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and CO2 is conducted for CeIII and PrIII complexes. Chapter three details the work on two different types of NHC ligand. The first ligand is the β-ketoimidazolinium salts H2LBr {L = RC(O)CH2{CH[NCH2CH2NMes], R = tBu, naphth} which reacts with MHBEt3 (M = Na, K) to form carbene-borane adducts RC(O)CH2{C(BEt3[NCH2CH2NMes]}. This type of reactivity differs from the previous work on imidazole derivatives. The possible mechanism of these reactions is provided and discussed. The other ligand is p-aryloxy-tethered imidazolinium salt H2LX (L = N-3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydrooxyphenyl-N’-mesityl-imidazolinium, X = Cl, Br, PF6 ), which have been synthesised and characterised. The reactions of these salts with MN"(M = Na, K) enabled the characterisation of polymerised complexes of [NaL]n and [KL(thf)2]n. The yttrium complex YL3 is synthesised and its reactivity towards small molecules such as boranes, CO2 and CS2 is discussed. Chapter four presents the primary results on the study of macrocyclic NHC based cyclophane ligand H6LPF6 (L = calix[4]imidazolylidene[2]pyrazolato). Investigations on the reactivity of the ligand towards different bases (NaN", KN", KBn etc.) are examined and subsequent metathesis reactions with RE complexes are explored. Chapter five concludes the work presented in this thesis. Chapter six contains all experimental and characterisation details.

Des complexes de Cyclodextrine (CD)-NHC-Métaux (NHC= Carbènes N-Hétérocycliques), comprenant des métaux tel que AgI, CuI et AuI ont été synthétisés. Une étude structurale a mis en évidence la position intra-cavitaire du métal, induisant des interactions C-H…M, C-H…X et π…X. L’influence du type de cavité (α-, β-, γ-CD) et du type de dérivés NHC (Imidazole, benzimidazole, triazole) a été étudiée. Les interactions diminuent avec l’augmentation de la taille de la cavité et en parallèle, celles-ci ont été amplifiées avec des dérivés NHC possédant un effet donneur plus fort. Les complexes de cuivre correspondants montrent une bonne réactivité pour la réaction d’hydroboration des alcynes. Il a de plus été observé que la sélectivité est dépendante de la taille de la cavité. En effet, alors que le complexe α-CD-Cu donne le produit linéaire, le complexe β-CD-Cu oriente vers la formation de l’isomère branché. Les espèces CD-Cu potentiellement impliquées dans le cycle catalytique ont été étudiées. Deux mécanismes différents sont ainsi proposés. Dans la réaction catalysée par le complexe α-CD-Cu, le processus catalytique a lieu en dehors de la cavité; tandis que lorsque la cavité est plus grande (β-CD) la catalyse a lieu à l’intérieur de la celle-ci. Par ailleurs, les complexes ont également montré une différente énantiosélectivité et régiosélectivité dans une réaction de cycloisomerization catalysée par des comlexes dor, en fonction de la taille de la cavité de ces catalyseurs. Les résultats catalytiques ont prouvé que les complexes CD-NHC-Métaux fonctionnent comme des catalyseurs pour lesquels la taille de la cavité influe sur la séléctivité. / Cyclodextrin (CD)-NHC-Metal complexes (NHC=N-Heterocyclic Carbene), including the AgI, CuI and AuI complexes were synthesized. A structural study showed that the metal was inside the cavity, and induced by C-H…M, C-H…X and π…X interactions. Variations on α-, β-, γ-CD cavities and NHC derivatives (midazole, benzimidazole, triazole) were studied. When the size of the cavity increased, these interactions decreased. Furthermore, stronger σ-donating effects lead to stronger interactions. CD-Cu complexes showed good activity in catalytic hydroboration of alkynes. The selectivity is depending on the size of the cavity of the catalyst. α-CD copper complex gives linear hydroboration products, while β-CD copper complex yields the branched isomers. The CD-Cu species potentially involved in the catalytic cycle were studied, two different mechanisms were thus proposed. In the α-CD-Cu complex catalyzed reactions, the catalytic process takes place outside the cavity; while a bigger cavity β-CD permits the catalysis to take place inside the cavity. Furthermore, the gold complexes also show different enantioselectivity and regioselectivity in cycloisomerization using different cavity-based catalysts. Catalytic results evidenced the selectivity of a catalytic reaction is dependent on the cavity of the CD-NHC-metal complexes.