Carbene stabilization of highly reactive main-group molecules

This article highlights recent efforts of this laboratory in the stabilization of highly reactive, low-oxidation-state, main-group molecules using bulky N-heterocyclic carbene ligands L: = :C{N(2,6-Pr(i)(2)C(6)H(3))CH}(2); L': = :C{N(2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2))CH}(2); L': = :C{(i-Pr)NC(Me)}(2)]. The syntheses, structures, and computational studies of carbene-stabilized neutral diborenes L:(H)B═B(H):L and L':(H)B═B(H):L'], a neutral Ga(6) octahedron (L':GaGa(4)Mes(4)]Ga:L'), disilicon (L:Si═Si:L), bis-silylene L:(Cl)Si-Si(Cl):L], dipnictogens (L:E-E:L, E = P, As; L':P-P:L'), and parent phosphinidene (L:PH) are discussed. Some of the unique challenges associated with this "carbene-stabilization" strategy are also presented.