Ruthenium(II) p-cymene complexes with picolyl-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(L)(Cl)][PF₆] (L = 3-methyl-1-(2-picolyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (1a), 3-isopropyl-1-(2-picolyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (1b), 3,4,5-trimethyl-1-(2-picolyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (1c), 3-mesityl-1-(2-picolyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (1d), 3-methyl-1-(2-picolyl)benzoimidazol-2-ylidene (1e), 3-methyl-1-(2-picolyl)-4,5-dichloroimidazol-2-ylidene (1f), 3-phenyl-1-(2-picolyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (1g)) have been synthesized and characterized. Compounds 1a–g were recrystallized, and X-ray crystal structures are reported for 1a,f. Furthermore, compounds 1a–f show catalytic activity in transfer hydrogenation of ketones and N-alkylation of amines. Notably, complexes 1a,c,f were found to be very efficient and versatile catalysts toward transfer hydrogenation of a wide range of ketones and imines in addition to N-alkylation of several amines.

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) nickel complexes [(L)Ni(NHC)][BAr^F₄] (Ar^F = 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl; L = allyl (1), methylallyl (2); NHC = 1-(2-picolyl)-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene (a), 1-(2-picolyl)-3-isopropylimidazol-2-ylidene (b), 1-(2-picolyl)-3-n-butylimidazol-2-ylidene (c), 1-(2-picolyl)-3-phenylimidazol-2-ylidene (d), 1-(2-picolyl)-3-methylbenzoimidazol-2-ylidene (e), 1-(2-picolyl)-4,5-dichloro-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene (f)) have been obtained in high yields and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, 1d was unambiguously characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1a–f/2a–f have shown catalytic activity toward dimerization and hydrosilylation of styrenes. In particular, 1a proved to be the most efficient catalyst in the dimerization of styrene derivatives in the absence of cocatalyst. Also, complexes 1a,d showed high selectivity and moderate to good yields in hydrosilylation reactions.