Insight into the nature of carbon–metal bonding for N-heterocyclic carbenes in gold/silver complexes and nanoparticles using DFT-correlated Raman spectroscopy: strong evidence for π-backbonding

Abstract

N-Heterocyclic carbenes stabilize metallic complexes, nanoclusters, nanoparticles and surfaces. Using DFT-correlated Raman spectroscopy, the carbon–metal bond was directly observed and the contribution of π-backbonding was confirmed and quantified.