2-Phosphanyl-substituted imidazolium salts 2-PR2(4,5-Cl-Im)[OTf] (9a,b[OTf]) (4,5-Cl-Im = 4,5-dichloro-1,3-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)-imidazolium) (a: R = Cy, b: R = Ph) are prepared from the reaction of R2PCl (R = Cy, Ph) with NHC 8 (4,5-dichloro-1,3-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)-imidazolin-2-ylidene) in the presence of Me3SiOTf. 5-Phospanyl-substituted imidazolium salts 5-PR2(2,4-Cl-Im)[OTf] (10a,b[OTf]) are obtained in quantitative yield when a slight excess of the NHC 8 is used. 5-Phosphonio-substituted imidazolium salts 5-PR2Me(2,4-Cl-Im)[OTf]2 (14a,b[OTf]2) and 5-PR2F(2,4-Cl-Im)[OTf]2 (16a,b[OTf]2) result from methylation reaction or oxidation of 10a,b[OTf] with XeF2 and subsequent fluoride abstraction. According to our quantum chemical studies the Cl1 atom at the 2-position at the imidazolium ring of dication 14b2+ carries a slightly positive charge and is therefore accessible for nucleophilic attack. Accordingly, the reaction of 14a,b[OTf]2 and 16a,b[OTf]2 with R3P (R = Cy, Ph) affords cationic 5-phosphonio-substituted NHCs 5-PR2Me(4-Cl-NHC)[OTf] (17a,b[OTf]) and 5-PR2F(4-Cl-NHC)[OTf] (18a,b[OTf]) via a SN2(Cl)-type reaction. A series of transition metal complexes such as [AuCl(5-PPh2Me(4-Cl-NHC))][OTf] (19[OTf]), [CuBr(5-PPh2Me(4-Cl-NHC))][OTf] (20[OTf]), [AuCl(5-PPh2F(4-Cl-NHC))[OTf] (21[OTf]) and [RhCl(cod)(5-PPh2Me(4-Cl-NHC))][OTf] (23[OTf]) are prepared to prove the coordination abilities of carbenes 17b[OTf] and 18b[OTf]. The isolation of a rare example of a tricationic bis-carbene silver complex [Ag(5-PPh2Me(4-Cl-NHC))2][OTf]3 (22[OTf]3) is achieved by reacting 14b[OTf] with Cy3P in the presence of AgOTf. NHC 17b[OTf] represents a very effective dehydrocoupling reagent for secondary (R2PH, R = Ph, Cy, iBu) and primary (RPH2, R = Ph, Cy) phosphanes to give diphosphanes of type R4P2 (R = Ph, Cy, iBu) and oligophosphanes R4P4, R5P5 (R = Ph, Cy), respectively. Methylation of 17b+ and subsequent deprotonation reaction with LDA affords the cationic NHO (N-heterocyclic olefin) 35+ of which the gold complex 36+ is readily accessible via the reaction with AuCl(tht).

2-Phosphanyl-substituted imidazolium salts 2-PR2(4,5-Cl-Im)[OTf] (9a,b[OTf]) (4,5-Cl-Im = 4,5-dichloro-1,3-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)-imidazolium) (a: R = Cy, b: R = Ph) are prepared from the reaction of R2PCl (R = Cy, Ph) with NHC 8 (4,5-dichloro-1,3-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)-imidazolin-2-ylidene) in the presence of Me3SiOTf. 5-Phospanyl-substituted imidazolium salts 5-PR2(2,4-Cl-Im)[OTf] (10a,b[OTf]) are obtained in quantitative yield when a slight excess of the NHC 8 is used. 5-Phosphonio-substituted imidazolium salts 5-PR2Me(2,4-Cl-Im)[OTf]2 (14a,b[OTf]2) and 5-PR2F(2,4-Cl-Im)[OTf]2 (16a,b[OTf]2) result from methylation reaction or oxidation of 10a,b[OTf] with XeF2 and subsequent fluoride abstraction. According to our quantum chemical studies the Cl1 atom at the 2-position at the imidazolium ring of dication 14b2+ carries a slightly positive charge and is therefore accessible for nucleophilic attack. Accordingly, the reaction of 14a,b[OTf]2 and 16a,b[OTf]2 with R3P (R = Cy, Ph) affords cationic 5-phosphonio-substituted NHCs 5-PR2Me(4-Cl-NHC)[OTf] (17a,b[OTf]) and 5-PR2F(4-Cl-NHC)[OTf] (18a,b[OTf]) via a SN2(Cl)-type reaction. A series of transition metal complexes such as [AuCl(5-PPh2Me(4-Cl-NHC))][OTf] (19[OTf]), [CuBr(5-PPh2Me(4-Cl-NHC))][OTf] (20[OTf]), [AuCl(5-PPh2F(4-Cl-NHC))[OTf] (21[OTf]) and [RhCl(cod)(5-PPh2Me(4-Cl-NHC))][OTf] (23[OTf]) are prepared to prove the coordination abilities of carbenes 17b[OTf] and 18b[OTf]. The isolation of a rare example of a tricationic bis-carbene silver complex [Ag(5-PPh2Me(4-Cl-NHC))2][OTf]3 (22[OTf]3) is achieved by reacting 14b[OTf] with Cy3P in the presence of AgOTf. NHC 17b[OTf] represents a very effective dehydrocoupling reagent for secondary (R2PH, R = Ph, Cy, iBu) and primary (RPH2, R = Ph, Cy) phosphanes to give diphosphanes of type R4P2 (R = Ph, Cy, iBu) and oligophosphanes R4P4, R5P5 (R = Ph, Cy), respectively. Methylation of 17b+ and subsequent deprotonation reaction with LDA affords the cationic NHO (N-heterocyclic olefin) 35+ of which the gold complex 36+ is readily accessible via the reaction with AuCl(tht).

Diimidazolium salts featuring different bridges between the imidazolium groups, as well as electron-withdrawing groups (chloride, cyanide) at the 4- and 5-position of the heterocyclic rings, have been successfully prepared. The diimidazolium salts serve as convenient precursors of di(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands, which coordinate in a chelating fashion to palladium(II) centres. The effect of the newly introduced electron-withdrawing groups on the spectroscopic and structural characteristics of the resulting complexes as well as on their reactivity as catalysts in a model alkyne hydroarylation reaction has been investigated and is discussed herein.

Die metallfreie Aktivierung des Treibhasgases SF6 unter Verwendung von elektronenreichen N-heterocyclischen Carbenen (NHCs) resultierte in der Bildung des jeweiligen 2,2- Difluorimidazolins und Imidazolin-2-thions bzw. 2,2-Difluorimidazolidins und Imidazolidin-2-thions. Die Reduktion der NHCs mit SF4 liefert dieselben Produkte. Im Abbau von SF5CF3 mit NHCs werden ebenfalls die zuvor genannten Produkte erhalten, wobei zusätzlich das entsprechende 2-Fluor-2-trifluormethylderivat gebildet wird. Exemplarisch wurde 1,3-Dimesityl-2,2-difluorimidazolidin [SIMes(F)2] als Fluorierungsreagenz von Aldehyden unter Bildung von Acylfluoriden sowie als Deoxyfluorierungsreagenz eingesetzt. In einem one-pot-Prozess kann zudem die Aktivierung von SF6 mit der Deoxyfluorierung von 1-Oktanol zu 1-Fluoroktan kombiniert werden. Des Weiteren konnte 1,3-Dimesityl-2-fluor-2-trifluormethylimidazolidin [SIMes(F)(CF3)] zur Trifluormethylierung von Me3SiCl und Arenen eingesetzt werden. Der Einsatz von SIMes(F)2 ermöglicht die Darstellung von des NHC-stabilisierten Al(III)- Fluorids [(SIMes)Al(F)(Me)2] durch Monofluorierung von [(SIMes)AlMe3]. Durch Variation des Fluorierungsmittels (SF4, SF6, Me3SnF) kann ein höherer Fluorierungsgrad erreicht und [(SIMes)Al(F)3] synthetisiert werden. Dieser Al-Komplex konnte durch Halogenaustausch mit Me3SiCl in [(SIMes)Al(Cl)3] überführt werden. / The metal-free activation of the greenhouse gas SF6 using electron-rich N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) furnished 2,2-difluoroimidazolines or 2,2-difluoroimidazolidines and 2- thio derivatives of the NHC precursors. The NHCs can reduce SF4 as well to give same products. A complete degradation of an another greenhouse gas SF5CF3 also gave 2,2- difluoro- and 2-thio- derivatives along with the 2-fluoro-2-trifluoromethyl- derivative of the NHC precursors. The 1,3-dimesityl-2,2-difluoroimidazolidine [SIMes(F)2] was taken as an exemplary substrate to be applied in deoxyfluorination reactions and acyl fluorination of aldehydes via aldehydic C(sp2)–H bond activation. Additionally, the activation of SF6 and the fluorination of 1-octanol into 1-fluorooctane can be coupled in a one-pot process. Furthermore, trifluoromethylation of Me3SiCl and arenes was observed with the 1,3-dimesityl-2-fluoro-2- trifluoromethylimidazolidine [SIMes(F)(CF3)]. SIMes(F)2 was also used for the fluorination of complex [(SIMes)AlMe3] to synthesize the NHC stabilized Al(III) fluoride [(SIMes)Al(F)(Me)2]. Various alternative reaction routes have been developed to synthesize the NHC stabilized Al(III) fluorides [(SIMes)Al(F)(Me)2] and [(SIMes)Al(F)3] through the fluorination of [(SIMes)AlMe3] with SF4, SF6 and Me3SnF. The complex [(SIMes)Al(F)3] was successfully employed for a F/Cl exchange reaction by treating it with Me3SiCl to yield [(SIMes)Al(Cl)3] and Me3SiF.