Acenaphthene-Based N-Heterocyclic Carbene Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Application in Catalysis

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have become a privileged structural motif in modern homogenous and heterogeneous catalysis. The last two decades brought plethora of structurally electronically diversified ligands, enabling the development cutting-edge transformations, especially area carbon-carbon bond formation. Although most these were accomplished with common imidazolylidene imidazolinylidene challenging ones only accessible acenaphthylene-derived N-heterocyclic bearing ?-extended system. Their superior ?-donor capabilities simultaneous ease modification rigid backbone enhance catalytic activity stability their transition metal complexes, which makes BIAN-NHC (BIAN—bis(imino)acenaphthene) an attractive tool for reactions. present review summarizes synthetic efforts towards complexes acenaphthylene subunits applications catalysis, special emphasis put on recently developed enantioselective processes.