C-H Activation approaches for the application of molecular recognition to organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis

A series of metal complexes of 2-aminobenzoquinoline prepared by C-H activation show molecular recognition effects. For example, ketones bound both by N-H...O hydrogen bonding and by coordination to a metal show selectivity of binding and dynamic properties not found when the hydrogen bonding function is omitted. N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are prepared by C-H activation reactions of imidazolium salts with the goal of understanding and using molecular recognition effects in homogeneous catalysis. Abnormal binding via C5 is seen in some cases.