New ruthenium Grubbs' and Hoveyda-Grubbs' second generation catalysts bearing N-alkyl/N-isopropylphenyl N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands with syn or anti backbone configuration were obtained and compared in model olefin metathesis reactions. Different catalytic efficiencies were observed depending on the size of the N-alkyl group (methyl or cyclohexyl) and on the backbone configuration. The...

Tridentate cyclohexyl-based alkanethiolate SAMs generated from a series of adsorbates of the form R3C6H6(CH2SH)3, where R = -(CH2)nH and n = 3, 8, and 13 (3CnCyTSH), were examined. Characterization of the SAMs by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that all sulfur atoms of the tridentate adsorbates were bound to the surface of gold, and that the tailgroups were in general less dense...

The first nickel-catalyzed method for the borylation of carbon-hydrogen bonds in arenes and indoles is described. The use of an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand is essential for an efficient reaction, with an N-cyclohexyl-substituted derivative being optimal. This method is readily applied to the gram scale synthesis of 2-borylindole.