Innenrücktitelbild: Kristalline Anionen auf Basis klassischer N‐Heterocyclischer Carbene (Angew. Chem. 5/2023)

Abstract

Stable anions based on classical N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) can be prepared by KC8-reduction of the corresponding NHC radicals as reported by Diego M. Andrada, Rajendra S. Ghadwal et al. in their Research Article (e202215244). The key to the stability of these anions is the delocalization of the electron lone pair over the C2-biphenyl substituent. In the solid state, the anions form a hexameric tubular structure with biphenyl substituents pointing inwards, as a result of intriguing cation–π interactions. The spider weaves its web.