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A Y-shaped tris-NHC ligand has been obtained and coordinated to palladium, affording metal complexes with novel topological properties. The tris-NHC ligand is capable of coordinating the two metals, affording two different coordination environments. The X-ray molecular structure of two of the complexes are reported. The three new Pd complexes provide good activity in the hydroarylation of alkynes, although we did not find any clear evidence about the benefits of using the dimetallic palladium species in the catalytic outcomes.

Novel enantiomerically pure cyclopentadienyl- and indenyl-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligands have been prepared by reaction of a chiral imidazole tosylate derivative with the corresponding cyclopentadienyl and indenyl lithium salts. Coordination of the Cp-functionalized NHC ligand to iridium and rhodium allowed the preparation of enantiomerically pure chelating cyclopentadienyl-functionalized Ir(III) and Rh(III) metal complexes. In contrast, the indenyl-functionalized NHC coordinates to iridium in a monodentate fashion, giving an Ir(I)-NHC complex containing a dangling indene group.