Homoleptic and heteroleptic bis-NHC Cu(i) complexes as carbene transfer reagents

Homo- and heteroleptic bis-NHC copper(i) complexes have been efficiently used as carbene transfer reagents to Au and Pd. The simple and straightforward procedure allows for the synthesis of well-known gold complexes as well as novel cationic bis-NHC Pd(ii) species.