N-heterocyclic carbenes in gold catalysis.

The appealing properties of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) as ancillary ligands and the high potential of gold as an organometallic catalyst have made their encounter inevitable. Still in its infancy, NHC-gold catalysis is nevertheless growing rapidly. In this tutorial review, catalytic transformations involving NHC-containing gold(I) and gold(III) complexes are presented. Particular attention is drawn to the versatility and selectivity of these catalysts.