N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have become a very popular class of ligands, which has found uses in numerous catalytic applications. The use of such compounds in combination with phosphorus-based ligands within metal complexes has enabled the design of very active yet robust catalytic systems. The following chapters will describe the design of novel well-defined palladium- and ruthenium-based pre-catalysts featuring a NHC and a phosphorus-based ligand, referred at as mixed ligand systems. Such species were employed in catalysis where their properties appeared highly beneficial, uses at low catalysts loading and under harsh conditions were then envisioned. The preparation of a series of well-defined palladium mixed NHC/phosphine species is presented in chapter 2. Their catalytic activity in the aqueous Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of aryl chlorides and boronic acids, using low catalyst loadings, is described. The observation of catalytic activity of the latter systems in the hydration of nitriles prompted us to further investigate this reactivity. This reaction appeared to be operative in the absence of palladium species and could be performed under base-catalysed conditions, which was studied in detail and depicted in chapter 3. The combination of a NHC and a phosphite ligand in ruthenium olefin metathesis pre-catalysts has been underexplored. Preliminary results showed that such species could be readily prepared and presented an unusual geometry and a high catalytic activity. Variations in phosphite-containing ruthenium olefin metathesis pre-catalysts are presented. Chapter 4 describes the investigation of various Schrock carbene moieties in such architectures, as well as their implications in structure and catalysis. Chapter 5 depicts attempts to design olefin metathesis Z-selective pre-catalysts by inserting a chelating NHC moiety within phosphite-containing ruthenium species. This dissertation concludes on the potential of such mixed species in catalysis, and armed with the new knowledge provided by this work, proposes potential developments of such chemistry in the design of always more robust and active catalytic systems.

Le sujet de cette thèse porte sur l’étude de ligands hybrides incorporant un donneur carbène N-hétérocyclique (NHC). Les ligands phosphine-NHC construits sur le motif m-phénylène ont conduit à des complexes di- ou tétranucléaires d’Ag, Cu, Au et Ir, et à des complexes bimétalliques Ag/Cu et Ag/Ir par transmétallation sélective du site NHC. Dans le cas des ligands phosphino-picoline-NHC (PNC), la transmétallation des sels de Li ou K correspondants a permis d’isoler des complexes « pinceurs » dé-aromatisés du Cr, Fe et Co. La déprotonation du ligand bis(phosphinométhyl)pyridine (PNP) a été examinée, et les ligands dé-aromatisés mono- et bis-anioniques correspondants ont été utilisés dans des réactions de transmétallation vers le Cr(II) et Zr(IV). Différents modes de coordination des ligands dé-aromatisés, notamment une métallation de la position alpha-CHP, ont été observés. La substitution de la phosphine dans PNC par une fonction imine conduit à un ligand hybride « rédox non-innocent ». / The purpose of this work is the synthesis and study of hybrid and potentially “pincer” ligands featuring an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) donor. The phosphine-NHC ligands based on the m-phenylene framework led to di- or tetranuclear Ag, Cu, Au and Ir complexes, and to bimetallic Ag/Cu and Ag/Ir complexes by selective transmetallation of the NHC. With the phosphino-picoline-NHC (PNC) ligands, transmetallation from the corresponding Li or K salts led to dearomatised Cr, Fe and Co “pincer” complexes. Deprotonation of the bis(phosphinomethyl)pyridine (PNP) ligand was also examined. The corresponding dearomatised mono- and bis-anionic ligands were isolated as Li or K salts and further used in transmetallation reactions towards Cr(II) and Zr(IV). Different coordination modes of the dearomatised ligands, including side-arm metallation, were observed. Substitution of the phosphine group in PNC by an imine donor led to a hybrid and “redox non-innocent” ligand.