One-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic carbene ligands from N-(2-iodoethyl)arylamine salts.

An approach that provides symmetrical, unsymmetrical, and asymmetric N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands is reported. Reaction of iodoethanol with aniline provides N-(2-iodoethyl)arylamine salts that are then converted to the corresponding iodide. Reaction with aliphatic or aromatic amines followed by triethyl orthoformate was used to provide 26 different NHC ligands.