Iridium complexes with monodentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Monodentate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been an extremely successful class of ancillary ligands in transition metal chemistry over the last 3 decades. Particularly important developments during that period have seen the use of bulky, monodentate NHC ligands in late transition metal chemistry and catalysis. In this review, we have gathered results that present how these monodentate ligands have been used in iridium chemistry. A comprehensive overview on synthetic methods available to access NHC–Ir compounds, the stoichiometric activity of the resulting complexes as well as their use in catalysis and other applications is given in the following pages.