The insertion of a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) into a coordinated olefin moiety is observed for a Pt-based system. Important intermediates along the reaction pathway have been isolated and fully characterized. Computational work supports a proposed mechanistic pathway involving external attack at the olefin by a NHC ligand rather than an intramolecular migratory insertion route.
![Insertion of a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) into a platinum-olefin bond](https://www.iciq.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Insertion-of-a-N-heterocyclic_eng_noticies_articles_2007_64.gif)