Progress in the catalytic applications of cobalt N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: Emphasis on their synthesis, structure and mechanism

The development of Co complexes derived from N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands for various catalytic applications leading to the emergence of valued organics is discussed in this review article. Herein, we provide all-inclusive catalytic applications of Co NHC complexes employed as catalysts in alkene and alkyne hydrogenations, hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds, hydrosilylations, hydroborations and borylations, C-C bond formations, C-H/C-X bond activations, N-2 or O(2 )activations/functionalizations, proton reduction, and several others, emphasizing on both, synthetic and structural aspects. The importance of aptly designed NHC ligands to access targeted Co derivatives is discussed in promoting challenging aforementioned transformations through which the reader is catered with a summary of this significant area of organometallic chemistry.