Simple and versatile selective synthesis of neutral and cationic copper(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes using an electrochemical procedure.

An electrochemical approach for the preparation of copper(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes has been developed to include a diverse range of ligand precursors. Importantly, the method is effective for a ligand precursor that contains several acidic protons and for which traditional methods of carbene formation are not suitable. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012