Imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine: A Versatile Architecture for Stable N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

Abstract
The imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine skeleton provides a versatile platform for the generation of new types of stable N-heterocyclic carbenes. Rh(I) mono- (6) and biscarbenes (7) from imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidenes (ImPy) and derivatives such as 13 from a mesoionic carbene were synthesized and characterized.