Molecular Systems Combining Porphyrinoids and N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

AbstractPorphyrins and N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are both relevant ligands in the fields of coordination and organometallic chemistry. Despite evident structural differences, porphyrins and NHCs have a lot in common such as their ability to form strong metal‐ligand bonds and their use in catalysis, materials science and biomedicine. During the last decade, several molecular systems combining porphyrins and NHC ligands were reported in the literature. The present review gathers relevant examples where NHC ligands are either axially bonded to metalloporphyrins or covalently attached to the porphyrin cores. Structural diversity, electronic interplay between porphyrins and NHCs and some relevant applications in catalysis and biomedicine are notably described. Finally, molecular systems combining NHCs with other original porphyrinoids such as N‐confused porphyrins, subporphyrins and norcorroles are also presented.