We describe a protocol to photogenerate N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) by UV irradiation of a 2-isopropylthioxanthone/imidazolium tetraphenylborate salt system. Methods to characterize the photoreleased NHC and elucidate the photochemical mechanism are proposed. The protocols for ring-opening metathesis photopolymerization in solution and miniemulsion illustrate the potential of this 2-component NHC photogenerating system.
Pinaud, J., Placet, E., Lacroix-Desmazes, P., Trinh, T. K. H., Malval, J. P., Chemtob, A., Pichavant, L., Héroguez, V. Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization. J. Vis. Exp. (141), e58539, doi:10.3791/58539 (2018).