Electrochemical reduction of an imidazolium cation: a convenient preparation of imidazol-2-ylidenes and their observation in an ionic liquid

摘要

1,3-Bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) imidazolium chloride is reduced electrochemically and chemically to produce a nucleophilic carbene, namely 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) imidazol-2-ylidene. The carbene was also shown to be compatible with and persistent in the ionic liquid tetradecyl(trihexyl) phosphonium chloride.