Cyclic (amino)[bis(ylide)]carbene as an anionic bidentate ligand for transition-metal complexes.

The 3-(triphenylphosphonio)-N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)pyrrole reacts with 2 equiv of methyllithium to afford a lithium adduct in which a cyclic (amino)[bis(ylide)]carbene, a novel type of NHC, acts as a 1,4-bidentate ligand via the carbene center and the exocyclic ylidic carbon. This species readily undergoes transmetalation reactions, which allows for the synthesis of a variety of transition-metal complexes.